US President George W. Bush's proposed 2009 fiscal year
federal budget would eliminate two USDA labs that play a vital role in poultry
research, providing invaluable services to the poultry
industry.
The Poultry Science Association has stated that the proposed budget, that
would eliminate the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL) in East
Lansing, Mich., and the Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory (ABBL)
in Beltsville, Md, would have a major effect on poultry and biomedical
research.
The proposed budget, which would begin 1 Oct, 2008, would cut $84 mln from
USDA's Agricultural Research Service. ADOL's annual $3.4 mln and ABBL's $8.4 mln
budgets would be eliminated, the laboratories closed and the research programmes
would not be relocated.
ADOL
Researchers at ADOL are working on developing lines of chickens with
genetic resistance to Marek's Disease Virus (costs the global poultry industry
more than $1 bln annually) and Avian Leukosis Virus, which two highly contagious
viral poultry diseases. ADOL is the World Animal Health Organization reference
laboratory for Marek's disease. ADOL also develops and maintains specialized
poultry lines for disease studies and is the primary poultry genomics facility
within the USDA, says the PSA.
"In terms of basic research, such as studying how viruses work and looking
at genomics to determine if a given line is susceptible or not — no one else in
the world is doing this kind of research," said professor Jerry Dodgson,
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State
University.
ABBL
Scientists at ABBL study mechanisms for improving feed utilisation in
poultry, along with working on ways to improve gamete storage for turkeys and
chickens. As feed costs continue rising, improving feed efficiency is important
in keeping the product affordable.
"We urge everyone involved in the poultry and related industries, and in
poultry and related areas of research, to write to your representatives in
Congress, both House and Senate, about the terrible damage the closures of ADOL
and ABBL would cause," PSA President Dr John B. Carrey said in a
statement.
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