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INDUSTRY PROMOTION AU professor develops first egg-injected poultry vaccination against avian influenza An Auburn University veterinary professor in collaboration with researchers at Vaxin Inc. of Birmingham has developed the first "in ovo," or egg-injected, vaccine to protect chickens against avian influenza, a virus threatening human health and global poultry populations. Dr. Haroldo Toro, whose research is in press in the scientific journal, Vaccine, says it would provide 100 percent protection once an outbreak's strain is determined. "We have proven the principle, which is the major step in leading to commercially produced vaccine that could be vital to the poultry industry," Dr. Toro said. "When an outbreak occurs, we would determine the strain and quickly create a vaccine within three months specifically for it." The researchers inserted a gene from a low pathogenic avian flu virus strain (H5N9) into a non-replicating human virus, a Vaxin proprietary technology, which was then injected into developing chicken embryos still in the egg. When protection induced by the vaccine was tested against two highly pathogenic avian flu viruses, a Vietnam H5N1 strain and a Mexican H5N2 strain, the results showed 68 percent and 100 percent protection, respectively. "These strains have slightly different genetic makeups which account for the different percentages in protection," said Dr. Toro, who is also collaborating on this project with the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Ga. "Our results indicate that we can provide effective protection Free shuttle bus service to growers going to Interntational Poultry Expo AP&EA, the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association are pleased to announce free bus service to the International Poultry Expo at the Georgia World Congress Center from the Sand Mountain area on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007. The bus, a modern, comfortable 50-passenger motor coach, will depart at 7 a.m. CST (promptly) from the Guntersville Recreation Center Ball Field Complex parking lot at the corner of Sunset Drive and US Hwy. 69, for the hassle-free transport to the front doors of the Georgia World Congress Center. Growers can register on-site for a reduced fee of $5. 14 Alabama Poultry November/December 2006 against any strain after incorporating the gene of the field strain into our vaccine construct." The disease has decimated poultry populations in Asia in recent years. Dr. Toro says United States health officials are continuously monitoring both chicken flocks and migratory birds that might bring new, highly pathogenic strains of the disease and infect poultry flocks, possibly killing between 90 percent to 100 percent in affected areas. The current policy of health officials during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu is mass euthanasia and disposal of infected birds, and strict biosecurity measures. Mass vaccination programs around the perimeter region would help to reduce the risk of further dissemination of the field virus to neighboring areas. Because this new vaccine also allows easy differentiation between naturally infected birds and vaccinated birds, it could also be used to prevent outbreaks of disease in case of immediate risk from a known strain affecting, for example, neighboring countries. "We can vaccinate lots of birds in a quick, cost- and labor-saving manner which otherwise would not be possible," Dr. Toro said. "Most poultry operations already have automated injection machines to vaccinate against Marek's disease, injecting up to 40,000 eggs per minute. Our vaccine is produced through cell cultures, so we can easily make enough vaccine for thousands of birds." He says this procedure is much easier than producing inactivated, or killed, vaccines, which require replicating the live avian The show features 16 acres of the latest equipment for the poultry industry, with the GWCC B Hall for live production systems and related equipment and services, and the C Hall dedicated to poultry processing. This year, the International Feed Expo joins the IPE, so growers will also be able to see the very latest in technology of feed equipment for poultry, pork, cattle and dairy operations. Growers will have the entire day Thursday to peruse either or both halls, attend educational seminars, and watch product demonstrations. At 5 p.m. (EST), the bus will reload and return to the ball field parking lot in Guntersville before 7 p.m. (CST) influenza virus in egg embryos and individual delivery by injection. In addition, naturally infected chickens cannot be differentiated from those vaccinated if the strain used for vaccination is the same as the one acting in the field. Currently available recombinant vaccines, using fowlpox vectors, are injected into the chicken and have been shown to be less effective in birds pre-exposed to the fowlpox vector. Pre-exposure to the vector used in this novel vaccine is extremely unlikely in chicken populations. "Both of the current methods are difficult and labor intensive, and are too time consuming, when time is critical," he said. "The inegg vaccine is easy to produce, easy to administer and very effective." He adds, "The vaccine would, in turn, reduce the risk for human exposure to avian influenza." Even though the risk to people is low, there have been confirmed cases among humans reported since 1997, primarily in Asia as a result of contact with infected chicken, ducks and turkeys. Dr. Toro's research is funded through a USDA program set up in 2004 for universities to study avian influenza. The next step is gaining federal approval to commercially produce the vaccine. "We are looking at two or three years for federal approval, but it might be much sooner if an outbreak occurs," he said. "We have a very good tool against avian flu. No one has done this before." Area poultry company employees may also use this bus service. Poultry company employees should pre-register at www.ipe07.com for $30, or register upon arrival for $50, as the reduced $5 IPE registration fee is exclusively for growers. While the bus is completely free of charge, growers and company employees alike must reserve a seat. You can do so by calling the Marshall County Extension office at 256-582-2000. Deadline for making reservations is Jan. 16. Seats are available on a first-come first-served basis, so call today! If there is enough demand additional buses, following the same schedule, will be added.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS Poultry giants share chamber award By Tim Greathouse Enterprise Ledger September 26, 2006 The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce selected poultry giants Wayne Farms and Pilgrim Pride as joint recipients of its Industry of the Year Award during the Chamber's awards week. In a twin presentation to the industries, both of whom are among the largest employers locally and the largest agriculture business in the area, were presented the Daniel Pratt Award recognizing their accomplishments, economic contributions, and community participation. The award is named after Daniel Pratt, regarded as Alabama's first industrialist. The poultry company thanked the Chamber for its selection, and cited several contributing factors toward being recognized. The company provides more than $90 million in local economic impact, is actively involved in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Enterprise Jaycees, and sponsors local school athletic programs. "This achievement is a tribute to our workforce, from the management to the line, taking time to make a difference in their community," said Jack Sherwood, operations manager. Wayne Farms LLC is the fifth-largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the United States with annual sales exceeding $1 billion. Wayne Farms LLC owns and operates 13 fresh- and further-processed facilities throughout the Southeast and produces more than 1 billion pounds of poultry products annually. The Wayne Farms LLC Enterprise facility was constructed in 1979 and operated as Southland Poultry before being purchased by Wayne Farms in 1994. The facility produces a variety of chicken products and underwent a $20 million expansion in 2005, boosting its processing capability from 850,000 to nearly 1.2 million birds per week. Modernization of freezer equipment and addition of a highcapacity blast freezer also enabled the facility to store more than 10 million pounds of fresh processed poultry products. The 96,000square-foot plant operates as a vertically-integrated facility, including a feed mill and hatchery that allows quality control and maximum efficiency from "farm to fork." Wayne Farms' Enterprise facility employs approximately 750 people from Coffee and Pike counties, and has added more than 120 jobs in the last year. Wayne Farms is sharing the award with Pilgrim's Pride, another local poultry processor. The Pilgrim's Pride complex originated in 1971 when local resident Tony Harrell built and operated the business as El-Jac Poultry. At that time, the business employed approximately 200 people. That same year, ConAgra Poultry purchased the facility and operated it until Pilgrim's Pride assumed ownership in November of 2003. Pilgrim's Pride is the second-largest poultry company in the United States. More than 275 million pounds of chicken is produced annually at the Enterprise plant for distribution to retail and food service customers. The company also has a distribution center in Jackson, Miss., and prepared foods plants in West Virginia and Georgia. The Pilgrim's Pride hatchery sets and supplies approximately 1.4 million eggs per week and the feed mill produces upwards of 5,000 tons of feed weekly for birds on 126 broiler farms, nine pullet farms and 23 hatching-egg-producing farms in the area. Pilgrim's Pride management and employees are active in the community and in meeting its needs. The company participates in the United Way, supports the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and company officials have served on the Chamber's board of directors. The company also sponsors an annual Health Fair at their complex for employees and their families. Other Chamber of Commerce presentations included Laura Talarczyk as Ambassador of the Year, Mary Carnley for the Behind the Scenes Award, Doug Allgood for the Leading the Charge Award, Stephen McCollough for the Star Award, and Sawyer Surgery Clinic as Business of the Year. Bea Fuentes earned the Volunteer of the Year Award while Lee O'Berry picked up the Retiree of the Year Award. The Enterprise Parks and Recreation Department was cited for this year's Tourism of the Year Award, the Workforce Initiative Award went to Fort Rucker's Army Fleet Support and the Yancey Parker Community Spirit Award was presented to the Westside Neighborhood program. The Howard Quattlebaum Media Award was presented to Kay Kirkland, the Wings of Freedom Award was presented to Sgt. Maj. Shirley Link and the Award of Excellence went to Navigator Development Group. Gold Kist recognizes top poultry producers Gold Kist recently honored some of Alabama’s poultry producers in Boaz on Sept. 12 and in Russellville on Sept. 26. Gold Kist President and CEO John Bekkers, who served as the keynote speaker at each location, praised local producers. "Our producers are the foundation on which we are building our reputation as the Go-To Chicken Company. Their careful raising of top quality chicken is the first step in the process. We appreciate their expertise, dedication and support." Commenting on poultry industry conditions Bekkers noted, "I am very pleased to see the recent upturn in the poultry markets, and we are well positioned to capitalize on this turnaround in the upcoming year." Receiving the Broiler Producer of the Year Awards for Gold Kist’s Northeast Alabama Division were: Nancy Garrison of Vinemont, Ala., for small birds, Betty Smith of Joppa, Ala., for tray pack and David Bailey of Ft. Payne, Ala., for big birds. Other broiler producers recognized were: Second Place Small Bird producer – Jeanett Grund of Hanceville Third Place Small Bird Producer – James Pike of Cullman Second Place Tray Pack Producer – David King of Rainsville Third Place Tray Pack Producer – Dennis Gerald Green of Baileyton. Second Place Big Bird Producer – Dennis Bowen of Horton, Ala. Third Place Big Bird Producer – Joey Tipton of Dutton, Ala. Mike and Regina Carnes of Boaz were named Pullet Producer of the Year, and Morris and Becky Dyer of Altoona and Larry and Carolyn McGee of Section were recognized as the Hatching Egg Producers of the Year. For Gold Kist’s Northwest Alabama Division receiving the Broiler Producer of the Year Award was Ronald Mayes of Moulton, second place producer is Keith and Donna Letson also of Moulton and the third place producer was Donald McKinney of Hackleburg. Lois Dutton of Cullman was named Pullet Producer of Year and Wayne Ergle of Dodge City was recognized as the Hatching Egg Producer of the Year. Alabama Poultry November/December 2006 15
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Page 21 and 22: TENANCE PRIORITIES Rusted pulleys o
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