The cheque was presented by Bill Bradley, vice president of egg production for CCF Brands and USPoultry Board member, to Dr Mike Kidd, director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and head of the Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas. Justin Whaley, president of CCF Brands, assisted in the cheque presentation.

“We will use the funds to recruit future industry leaders into our department. These funds are vital for our recruitment efforts that encompass both high school and community college programmes. Our growing undergraduate numbers are a reflection of USPoultry’s support via the USPoultry Foundation," said Dr Kidd.

The USPoultry Foundation board recently approved student recruiting grants totalling more than $183,000 to the six US universities with poultry science departments and 14 other institutions with industry-related programmes. The Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programmes.