NC1180: Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Poultry Respiratory Diseases in the United States
Statement of Issues and Justification
THE NEED AS INDICATED BY STAKEHOLDERS. Poultry meat production has been continually increasing and consumption has surpassed all other meats. Because of the efficiency and competitive nature of the poultry industry, the cost of poultry meat is very attractive to consumers. Furthermore, the National Chicken Council released results of a survey showing that chicken was preferred to beef and pork, in terms of versatility, taste, ease of preparation, being healthful and nutritious, price and consistency of quality. In 2007, per-capita annual consumption of chicken was 90.6 pounds, the highest of any of the major meats. In addition, annual per capita turkey meat consumption was approximately 18 pounds. Beef consumption was 69 pounds per person on a retail weight basis, while pork was 52 pounds per person. A survey conducted by Bruskin Research found that 89% of the respondents ate chicken at least once per week and 36% of the respondents consumed chicken three times per week or more. The poultry industry is a highly integrated growth industry and is a major contributor to animal agriculture. The combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2007 was $31.9 billion, up 24 percent from the $25.8 billion in 2006. Of the combined total, 67 percent was from broilers, 21 percent from eggs, 12 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from chickens. In 2007, broiler production was valued at $21.5 billion up 21 percent from 2006. The number of broilers produced was 8.9 billion, slightly up from 2006. The value of turkeys produced during 2007 was $3.71 billion, up 4 percent from the $3.57 billion the previous year. Turkey production in 2007 totaled 7.87 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the 7.46 billion pounds produced in 2006. Chicken eggs are an important source of high quality protein and other nutrients in the diet.IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK, AND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF IT IS NOT DONE. Respiratory diseases are the major group of diseases affecting poultry. Consequently, losses induced by these diseases are of major economic impact on the producer, the local economy and the U.S. economy. Many endemic respiratory infectious diseases in the U.S. continue to decrease the profitability of commercial poultry production. Viruses, bacteria and fungi cause respiratory diseases or interact to cause disease. Management of poultry is also a critical factor in controlling respiratory disease. One of the diseases, avian influenza (AI), has significant potential to impact the industry both in terms of animal losses and through export restrictions. AIV which is endemic in live poultry markets in the Eastern and Western U.S. will remain a significant threat to commercial poultry producers. A major AI outbreak occurred in commercial poultry in Virginia in 2002 resulting in $130 million in losses. Outbreaks in smaller commercial poultry populations occurred in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Minnesota, California, Delaware and Maryland.
The U.S. poultry industry is the world's largest producer and second largest exporter of poultry meat. Approximately 16% of the total production in the U.S. is exported (Economic Research Service, USDA; http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Poultry/). These export markets are subject to immediate restriction when poultry respiratory diseases such as AI or exotic Newcastle disease (END) are diagnosed and reported. Since our last project was initiated, important new threats to poultry production have become a concern of the industry and require a focus of our future project. A major epidemic of END occurred in California from September 2002-May 2003. Eradication of END cost more than $162 million, a value that does not include lost export trade at the time. Smaller outbreaks in non-commercial poultry occurred in Arizona and Nevada. An apparently unrelated END outbreak in backyard poultry also took place in Texas.
The agrobioterrorism threat to the U.S. food supply is a post 9/11 2001 reality. AIV and END are classified as agrobioterrorism agents. Our project will develop strategies for rapid diagnosis and control of these diseases.
Endemic respiratory diseases of poultry continue to collectively cost poultry producers millions of dollars annually. These include infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), variant infectious bronchitis (IB), lentogenic ND, and infections caused by E. coli, avian mycoplasmas, Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and P. multocida. Losses are realized from mortality and morbidity via condemnation at processing and poor performance (increased feed conversion and medication costs, decreased growth).
Considering the challenges outlined above, it is essential that the proposed studies proceed to help protect the nation's food supply and the economic well-being of farmers and the poultry industry.
THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF THE RESEARCH. The technical challenges posed by the goal of improved respiratory disease control are significant but approachable. Participants in the project have experience and training to undertake the work and complete the objectives. In addition, physical facilities, equipment, and other resources are committed by member institutions to guarantee the success of the proposed activities.
THE ADVANTAGES FOR DOING THE WORK AS A MULTISTATE EFFORT. Control of respiratory infectious diseases lends itself to collaborative multistate research. The diseases are endemic in many poultry producing states. Furthermore the challenges posed by the number of different disease etiologies and their complexities require a multistate effort.
NC1019 SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS AND PRODUCTIVITY. The understanding of respiratory diseases of poultry has been advanced considerably through the current NC1019 project which merged in 2004 with the now defunct NE-228 project, Epidemiology and Control of Emerging Strains of Poultry Disease Respiratory Agents. Of notable mention are the advances made in rapid diagnostics for avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses and genotype identification of infectious bronchitis virus and infectious bursal disease virus. DNA and recombinant vector based vaccine technologies have also moved forward at a dramatic pace and hold much promise for improved control of respiratory diseases. Studies with the newly recognized diseases such as turkey rhinotracheitis and chicken swollen head syndrome caused by avian metapneumovirus have led to better understanding of the disease, development of diagnostic tools, and development of an experimental vaccine that has been used successfully to control the disease. The combination of these and other findings have led to very productive years of the current project as indicated by the number of papers published or in press of which many include joint publications. Please refer to the Composite Annual Station Reports attached to this proposal for more information on findings and publications for the years 2004-2008.
WHAT THE LIKELY IMPACTS WILL BE FROM SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE WORK. The overall impact of a successful outcome will be improved diagnosis and control of respiratory diseases that will benefit the poultry industry. Impact of the research will be derived from identification of disease agent reservoirs such as wild birds, factors involved in agent transmission to poultry, the development and delivery of differential immuno and gene based diagnostics, determination of infection status, rapid strain identification, evaluation of vaccines, and the design and implementation of eradication protocols for selected agents. The overall outcome of the project is to produce findings that enable poultry industry to remain competitive and profitable.
The specific NCRA Crosscutting Research Areas and Priority Research Objectives addressed directly or indirectly by this NC1019 research proposal are:
i. Agricultural Production, Processing and Distribution. Objective 1. Develop alternative agricultural production systems to enhance economic competitiveness in the rural landscape; and Objective 2. Develop improved animal, plant and microbial production, processing and marketing systems that are competitive, profitable and environmentally sound over the long term.
ii. Genetic Resources Development and Manipulation (Genomics and Germplasm). Objective 1. Develop new genotypes that increase product value, enhance global competitiveness, improve human nutrition, nurture environmental quality and foster rural development.; Objective 2. Broaden and enrich the knowledge base about genomics; Objective 3. Collect, preserve, share, enhance and evaluate germplasm at the molecular, cellular and/or organismal levels; and Objective 5. Develop increased knowledge of the interactions and interrelationships of the various life forms.
iv. Natural Resources and the Environment. Objective 7. Develop remediation systems to reduce agricultural, non-agricultural, and chemical waste contamination of soil, water and air; and Objective 10. Document the link between animal welfare/behavior, care and management and their environment.
v. Economic Development and Policy. Objective 1. Develop profitable technologies and systems. Determine the potential profitability of production, processing and distribution technologies (innovations, i.e., agricultural information, technology, precision agriculture) that are environmentally sound and socially acceptable; Objective 2. Enhance U.S. global competitiveness. Enhance international market development by analyzing factors including the increasing adoption of agricultural biotechnology that determine U.S. competitiveness in global markets and analyze alternative policies to modify these factors to the advantage of U.S. agriculture; and Objective 3. Create new management decision-making models. Design optimal management systems for cropping systems, forest systems, non-cropped ecosystems, animal systems, whole farm and watershed systems, fishery and wildlife and data needs of agricultural businesses, research organizations and consumer groups.
The specific CREES/GPRA Goals and Strategic Objectives addressed directly or indirectly by this NC1019 research proposal are:
I. An Agricultural System That is Highly Competitive in the Global Economy. Objective1. Facilitate informed decisions by agricultural producers, policy officials, and other decision makers by developing and sharing knowledge promoting agricultural production and marketing; Objective 2. Expand the knowledge base leading to improvements in productivity and marketability, development of new and enhanced commercial products, and expansion of foreign and domestic market opportunities. Objective 3. Ensure the long-term economic viability and sustainability of production agriculture as it makes the transition from Federal subsidies to world market orientation; and Objective 4. Strengthen and coordinate the capabilities of the REE agencies to enable joint action and rapid response to emerging issues and problems in a global context.
II. A Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System. Objective 1. Reduce the impact of threats to agricultural production by expanding the knowledge base needed to rapidly and effectively manage pests, disease, and natural disasters.
IV. Greater Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment. Objective 1. Promote sustainable agricultural production and enhance environmental quality by enabling producers to use cost-effective, environmentally friendly production practices and systems.
V. Enhanced Economic Opportunity and Quality of Life for Citizens and Communities. Objective 1. Promote the effectiveness of rural policies and programs by (a) enhancing understanding of the conditions that promote economic opportunities, and (b) identify rural needs.; and Objective 2. Promote new businesses and growth in existing businesses, including farms and ranches, by transferring knowledge and technologies developed by or in partnership with REE agencies to private sector entrepreneurs.
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