TUCKER, Ga. – The US Poultry & Egg Association's research program has invested $25 million in grants to the poultry and egg industry.

The program began with a $5,000 research grant issued 50 years ago to Dr. Allen Edgar at Auburn Univ. to study control measures for infectious Gumboro disease, a highly infectious and fatal disease in young chickens. Presently, USPOULTRY funds research in 19 areas at institutions incorporating all stages of poultry and egg production and processing, according to the organization.


“Research is, and continues to be, an important aspect of USPOULTRY's service to the industry,” said USPOULTRY president John Starkey. “We are proud to have achieved $25 million in research funding over the last 50 years. USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are committed to continuing to grow the research program and to supporting the needs of the poultry industry.”

Current research topics include: animal welfare, breeder management (broiler/turkey), broiler management, commercial egg production, diseases, employee safety and health, environmental management, feed mill operations, food safety, further processing, genetics, hatchery management, human nutrition, live haul, market turkey management, nutrition, poultry housing, pullet management and processing.