The research is a follow-up study on a previously funded project (BRU007) in which researchers provided insight on using ventilation shut down (VSD) as a humane depopulation method.

The study showed that the addition of heat and/or CO2 to the VSD procedure provided a rapid and humane depopulation method.

The recently funded additional research will repeat these investigations using broiler chickens and turkeys, since the original research was completed with layers.

The previous research summary and final report can be found on the USPOULTRY website at www.uspoultry.org.

The funding for the additional research was approved by the board of directors, based on recommendations from the Foundation research advisory committee.

The committee evaluates research proposals to determine their value to the industry and then makes recommendations to the board for funding. The research information is as follows:

Evaluating Broiler and Turkey Behavior and Physiological Stress Indicators during VSD with Additions of Heat or CO2 for the Development of Humane Methodologies for Mass Depopulation during a Disease Outbreak
North Carolina State University (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Prestage Farms)

USPOULTRY Foundation donations are from a wide range of poultry and egg companies, individuals and families to support the Foundation’s mission of funding industry research and recruiting students into poultry careers.

USPOULTRY and its Foundation operate an extensive research program incorporating all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

Since the inception of the research program, USPOULTRY and its Foundation have reinvested more than $30 million dollars into the industry in the form of research grants, with the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo, as the primary source for the funding.

More than 50 universities and federal and state facilities have received grants over the years.