The Canadian government has committed an investment of up to CA$275,000 (US$254,606) to the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan to undertake research on disease control in the Saskatchewan broiler chicken industry. The allocation of funds was announced by Brad Trost, a member of parliament.
With this investment, the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan aims to identify and characterize new variants of the avian reovirus and determine how they are transmitted. It also aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in field trials.
This project is a step in the development of vaccines for avian reovirus and IBH, two diseases that are a common problem for many Canadian broiler producers. If commercialized, these vaccines have the potential of reducing economic losses in the Canadian chicken industry and the need for therapeutics by preventing instead of treating these diseases.
"Our government supports the Canadian chicken industry's ability to seek innovative solutions that will help it prosper and remain competitive,” said Trost. “This project involves the development of control measures for emerging diseases impacting the sector, thereby helping it to remain a significant contributor to Canada's economy."
Diane Pastoor, chairperson of the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, welcomed the government’s commitment to poultry health research.
