CPRC Update: Feds invest in poultry research

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s minister of agriculture and agri-food, officially announced a five-year $8.24 million investment in the Canadian poultry industry in May at the University of Montreal in St-Hyacinthe, Que.  The funding is under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Clusters Program and is in addition to an investment of $3.78 million from industry and other levels of government.

CPRC’s chair, Helen-Anne Hudson, and research coordinator, Caroline Wilson, as well as representatives from all poultry sectors, were present. During her speech, Bibeau declared: ‘’Our government is committed to helping Canada’s poultry sector maintain consumer trust and stay on the cutting edge by finding new and innovative solutions to challenges faced by the industry. This funding will play an important part in ensuring that the sector is able to continue to grow sustainably and do more to meet high consumer demand.”  

After the announcement the minister, journalists and industry representatives visited the laboratory of Martine Boulianne, where two of the funded research projects are being conducted. These undertakings aim to develop an in ovo vaccine against Clostridium perfringens and vaccine strategies to protect broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis.  

CPRC will coordinate and administer research funding and reporting of 19 research projects, five of which are led by AAFC researchers. The projects reflect the priorities of the industry, governments and Canadian society. A total of 74 individual researchers will be involved in projects across Canada with input from global scientists.

Four research themes
The 19 research projects encompass four research themes. Almost half of the projects are investigating antimicrobial stewardship in poultry production, which includes research in vaccine development and antimicrobial alternatives.

The poultry health and welfare themed projects include research that will identify developmental determinants of successful behavioural adaptation, the impact of stocking density on performance and welfare of turkey hens and the optimal dietary phosphorus and calcium levels in pullets and laying hens to maximise bird health and performance.  

Within the food safety theme, researchers are looking at the development of vaccines to reduce Campylobacter colonization in chickens, mitigation of Campylobacter jejuni strains within the broiler production continuum, bacteriophage intervention during processing to control Campylobacter and Salmonella contamination.

The fourth theme is comprised of research focusing on sustainability of the Canadian poultry production system. These projects include: Evaluating control strategies to reduce emissions of particulate matter, ammonia and greenhouse gases from poultry operations; assessment of infectious bronchitis virus on egg production and fertility of chickens; and methods to enhance development and maintenance of a functional intestinal tract in poultry.  

Hudson welcomed the announcement. “Funding for the third poultry science cluster allows the poultry industry to conduct research projects that reflect the priorities of the industry and Canadian consumers.

“Canadian poultry farmers are constantly evolving their production practices. As part of the cluster, funding will also be used for knowledge and technology transfer to farmers and other poultry value chain members such as input suppliers, processors and the retail component of the industry.”

The Canadian Poultry Research Council, its board of directors and member organizations support and enhance Canada’s poultry sector through research and related activities. For more details, visit cp-rc.ca.