Dr. Jim Richards, Manager of cell Biology Research at Novus

Making a determined effort to reinvigorate the exposition IPE organisers will reflect with some pleasure on the success of the International Poultry Scientific Forum. With circa 700 attending circa 150 presentations with an additional 70 posters it has drawn strong approval for both the range and the quality of the papers presented. Whether the pairing with the Feed Exposition added as much to the event is more debatable as quite a number of these exhibitors are already regulars at IPE and many of the other major international players have decided not to exhibit.

The technical forum provides an ideal audience for valuable new approaches to find their position in the commercial environment and papers that exemplify this well included the presentation by Dr. Jim Richards, Manager of cell Biology Research at Novus, of his work on the greater bioavailability of organic trace minerals over inorganic supplements, and on the first direct assay for true bioavailability to the animal. With potential important benefits in bone integrity, reduced skeletal deformities, eggshell strength, hatchability and better immune response this is an area of work that that particularly warrants attention and the paper discussed the significant effects being demonstrated.

Also noted for its important commercial implications was the paper by Dr Susan Watkins on drinking water sanitation which scientifically examined the various common approaches to this vital area of production. Dr Watkins's work shows sharp differences in the reduction of the microbial loads in drinking water achieved by the various products with the concentrated stabilized hydrogen peroxide product CID 2000 giving the greatest reduction in microbial load. The differences demonstrated will be seen by many as strong evidence for the selection of the right approaches on the basis of scientific results.

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