Below are descriptions of each of CPRC's research programs. For reports on projects within each program, please go to the Results section.

Avian Gut Microbiology
The Avian Microbiology Network (AviMicroNet) is a communication network of researchers designed to encourage the investigation of the impact of gut microflora on the nutrition, feed conversion, pathogen carriage, and health of poultry in an antimicrobial-free environment. This effort has been put forth in response to growing pressures to reduce, or possibly eliminate, antimicrobial drugs from animal feeds.

Environment
The CPRC initiated a research program dedicated to environmental issues in the poultry industry. Projects have been supported, which touch on a wide variety of areas. These include the prevalence and effect of veterinary pharmaceutical residues in the environment, the direct injection of poultry litter on agricultural land, the environmental implications of phosphorus and calcium flows in laying hens, and workplace exposure to environmental contaminants in commercial poultry barns.

Food Safety & Poultry Health
This program covers a wide range of topics with potentially far-reaching implications for the sector. Topics include: immunization of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis, understanding the biology of avian influenza virus and finding better ways to control it, novel multivalent vaccines for avian health, and new ways to control enteric pathogens.

Novel Feedstuffs
There is an emerging need for research on the use of feedstuffs alternative to current grains (especially corn), which are anticipated to increase in price due to demands from the energy sector. The CPRC responded to this situation by calling for LOIs relating to “Novel Feedstuffs” in 2008. Three projects are underway.

Poultry Welfare & Behaviour
Research within this program covers such topics as: impact of ammonia on the welfare of laying hens, improving transport conditions for broilers, alternative methods of euthanizing turkeys, effects of lighting programs on leg weakness in broilers, improving welfare for beak trimmed hens, maintaining leg and bone structure in turkeys, implications of toe-trimming turkeys, and alternative feeding strategies for broiler breeders. In addition to these projects, the CPRC, in conjunction with AAFC, PIC and the University of Guelph is facilitating the development of a ‘virtual’ centre of excellence in this important research area. Researchers across Canada working on projects with welfare implications (of which there are many) will have access to the expertise of this group in designing, implementing and interpreting the results of their experiments.

Ad hoc
The CPRC also funds projects that are of significance to the Canadian poultry industry, but may not fit into the broad research programs listed above. Researchers may apply for funding for this category of research at any time throughout the year according to the CPRC policy on ad hoc proposals. Research topics funded under the ad hoc program include: nutritional studies on broiler breeders, cryopreservation of avian genetic material and alternative moulting procedures in turkeys.

For details on the CPRC ’s ad hoc policy, click here.

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