Protecting poultry health for a sustainable future

A poultry research initiative at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is bringing together researchers to find solutions to improving the health of food animals and protecting human health as well.

“We’re fostering a network of collaboration and communication to harness the momentum that has been created in Guelph over the past several years in the area of poultry health,” says Dr. Shayan Sharif, Department of Pathobiology in OVC, and leader of the Poultry Health Research Network (PHRN).

The PHRN aims to increase interactions between University of Guelph departments with scientists and policymakers in government and industry. The Network includes faculty and researchers from OVC and several University of Guelph departments, as well as scientists from the provincial and federal governments and the poultry sector. 

Canada’s poultry industry produced poultry products worth $3.8 billion and contributed 7.1 per cent of cash receipts to farming operations in 2012.

“In addition to working collaboratively to find solutions to poultry issues ranging from production, nutrition and welfare to economics and environmental questions, this initiative will also enhance our undergraduate and graduate programs by integrating world-class research with providing high-quality learning opportunities for future veterinarians and scientists,” says Sharif. 

The PHRN has 40 members so far, and at any given time, more than 100 highly qualified personnel work on poultry-related research under the leadership of the PHRN members.

“There are other research networks focused on poultry around the world, but we are quite unique in terms of our people and facilities. We have expertise in a wide range of areas from virology and vaccine development and disease modelling, to field-level issues that affect flock health and welfare such as parasite management and caging systems and lighting in barns,” adds Sharif.

Source: uoguelph