Algeria

The Algerian branch of WPSA, jointly with the Algerian Poultry Science Association (APSA), is organizing the IVth Poultry Sciences Symposium to be held on 9-10 November 2016, in Constantine, Algeria.

The following topics will be included:

• Poultry Nutrition
• Poultry Health and Prophylaxis
• Alternative Feed Additive
• Poultry Products and Food safety
• Reproduction and genetic
• Economic Status of Poultry Industry in Maghreb
• Poultry Housing and Management

For more information please contact: Dr O. Bennoune:  
See also www.wpsa-dz.info

Benin

The Benin branch delegates, jointly with a representative from the government of Benin, will travel to the XXV Poultry Congress, WPC-2016, in Beijing, China. In order to improve our trip to the Congress, the Branch held a meeting with its strategic partners that took place in ‘Chant d'Oiseau’ on the 21^st of May, 2016. That meeting was related to the development of correct strategies for improving coordination for all poultry business in Benin. We hope to plan a project that will be helpful for all of Benin.

The second idea was that our political goal was to organize our poultry people so that they produce what our citizens can consume. The implementation of modern poultry production methods is a real opportunity.

Now the question is, how do we reduce the obstacles to putting modern poultry methods into practice? Especially modern poultry nutrition and feeding methods, since the dietary components of poultry diets are often in competition as sources of human food. So, we hope to take advantage of the opportunities afforded us by participating in the WPC-2016 in China.

We look forward to seeing all of you during WPC 2016 who have interest in Benin.

Felicien Durand

Cameroon

A general meeting of the Cameroon branch was held on April 15, 2016 under the chairmanship of President, Prof Teguia Alexis surrounded by his executive board. The aim of this meeting was to evaluate the activities of the national branch and to launch a road map for the branch. During this meeting, various activity reports were presented by the Secretary, Prof. Fotsa Jean Claude, as well as a financial report by the Treasurer, Dr. Zambou Henri Rene. After deliberations on the necessity for the Cameroon branch to be more visible, both at the national and international levels, than it has been for the past few years, the board reviewed and adopted a road map as follows:

• Encourage the publication of scientific results of members working in the various Poultry Science domains, including feeds and feeding, genetics, management, poultry welfare and health, etc.;
• Organize more conferences and seminars in major production areas namely West, littoral and centre in order to capture the attention of more poultry stakeholders;
• Take the lead on outreach for Poultry Science and production activities in the Central African Sub region and contact colleagues in other Central African nations for joint activities;
• Actively participate in the upcoming National Poultry Forum organized by the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Industries, that will be held in the Yaounde Congress Center in November 2016;
• Help young lecturers and researchers to improve their scientific production;
• Increase WPSA-CMR Branch membership and have membership fees paid to the WPSA headquarter on time.

Prof. FOTSA Jean Claude, Secretary of Cameroon Branch 

Egypt

The Egyptian branch of WPSA, jointly with the Egyptian Poultry Science Association (EPSA), is organizing the 9th International Poultry Conference (9IPC), from 7 - 10 November 2016, Hurghada, Egypt.
For more information please contact Prof. Yahya Eid, e-mail:  

France

The French Branch of WPSA will host two International symposia in 2017, which will take place in Brittany in the western part of France.

Xth European Symposium on Poultry Welfare
Dates: 19-22 June 2017
Venue: Ploufragan – France
Abstract submission opening: June 2016
Abstracts submission deadline: November 2016
http://www.poultrywelfare2017.com/ 

10th European Symposium on Poultry Genetics
Dates: 26-28 June 2017
Venue: Saint-Malo, France
Abstract submission opening: January 2017
http://www.wpsa.fr/congres/congres_WPSA.html 

Representatives from the French Branch of WPSA will be present at WPC2016 in Beijing to inform WPSA’s worldwide delegates about WPC2020that will be held in Paris (August 16-20, 2020). Further information on WPC220 is available at http://www.wpsa.fr/ 

Dr. Michel DUCLOS, secretary of WPSA-France Branch

Germany

In March more than 100 members and interested people came to Köthen, a nice small city near Leipzig, to participate in the annual meeting of the German Branch.

Activities of the past year were reviewed during the business meeting,. Based on the branches sound financial status, we will again support young scientists from Germany with travel grants to encourage their participation at the WPC2016 in Beijing.

Following a witty guided tour through the Johann-Sebastian-Bach City of Köthen, part of the tour was performed by costumed medieval washerwomen. The day ended with a dinner in the relaxed atmosphere of the Köthener Ratskeller. For those of you who are not aware, the photograph at the right shows what the washerwomen looked like!

Interesting presentations with veterinary, nutritional, egg handling and economic topics and fruitful discussions thereafter were part of the well-attended scientific programme on the second day. In the afternoon Leo Graf von Drechsel and his team from Wimex organized a very interesting programme to visit either a parent stock farm or the new veterinary lab ‘Praxis Müller-Molenar & Todte’.

The next annual meeting will be held in March 2017 in Hannover.

Anke Forester, German Branch Secretary

Hungary

The Hungarian Branch of WPSA helped host a World Poultry Day on May 10, 2016. This series of events for the World Poultry Day in Hungary was organised by the WPSA Hungarian Branch and by the Poultry Product Board (BTT). Through this event our poultry organisations wanted to show that the poultry sector is becoming a much more important factor in the nutrition of the Hungarian people as well as for people in the rest of the World.

Several years ago, the Poultry Product Board urged a number of international organisations to designate the 10th of May as the World Poultry Day. That idea was supported by the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU (AVEC), by the International Poultry Council (IPC), and also by the scientific world organisation of the poultry sector, the World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA). As a result of this, the events of the first World Poultry Day were organised by the WPSA and BTT in Hungary.

The venue for the World Poultry Day was the Vajdahunyad castle in Budapest, where presenters described the current poultry situation, as well as future possibilities for the development of the poultry sector in Europe. The Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture, György Czerván, and also a representative of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), attended the event.

The aim of the World Poultry Day was to direct attention to the growth and undertakings of the worldwide poultry sector, which are playing a more and more important role in the world’s food supply. The conference was opened by Peter Horn, a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and President of the Hungarian Branch of WPSA. The conference room was crowded with poultrymen, including experts from every part of the industry. Dr. Attila Csorbai, President of the Hungarian Poultry Product Board, announced that the Poultry Product Board has established a special World Poultry Day Award for The Hungarian Poultry Industry. Peter Földi, the current Secretary of the Hungarian Branch of WPSA was named the first recipient of the award.

PRESENTATIONS

Pedro Medel, Executive Director – Imasade Agroalimentaria, S. L.
The primary challenges that chicken meat has got to face in Europe

Poultry meat will be the type of meat produced and consumed in the highest proportion within a few years, and in fact it is already the number one meat produced today in certain countries and regions. European broiler producers produce high level quality products. Welfare, food safety, and environmental requirements are more strict in Europe than in much of the rest of the World, and consequently European production costs are higher.

Dr. Sergey Shabaev, president, Eurasian Poultry Association:
Past, present and future of the Russian poultry industry

Poultry production has been an important sector in Russia for a long time. The poultry industry is currently a very dynamic and developing industry. Russia produces 4492 thousand tons of meat, and the member states of CIS produce 6 million tons. Egg production is 42.5 billion in Russia, and the member states of CIS produce 78 billion eggs..

István Tresó, Executive Director, K&H Bank Business development department for Agro and Food Industry:
Looking at the poultry industry with eyes of a financier

The Hungarian poultry industry is a very important sector for the K&H Bank. The Hungarian poultry industry is highly integrated , with controlled production line. The Hungarian poultry enterprises are generally small or medium in size, compared to many international enterprises. Half of Hungary’s poultry production is currently exported, and the future success of Hungarian poultry exports will depend upon the uniformity and quality of its products.

Near the end of the Hungarian World Poultry Day, Dr. Sergey Shabaev, President of the Eurasian Poultry Association, and D. Attila Csorbai, President of the Hungarian Poultry Product Board signed a Cooperation Agreement.

Peter Foldi, Secretary, Hungarian Branch

Israel

Poultry Science Conference

The 51st annual conference of the Israeli Branch was held in the Ramada hotel in Jerusalem at the end of May 2016.
During the 3-day conference, 60 presentations in16 sessions covered all poultry science disciplines: Health; Nutrition; Immunology; Reproduction, Incubation and Physiology; Product Quality; and Production of broilers, layers and turkeys.
Round table discussions focused on issues concerning the poultry industry in Israel: regulatory reforms affecting egg and meat production, as well as quality and safety of poultry products.
The conference was honoured with two overseas guests: Prof. Shai Barbut from Guelph University (Canada) who shared his experience and vast knowledge in the field of poultry meat processing, and Dr. Nigel Horrox, the President of the World Veterinary Poultry Association who discussed the role of the Veterinarian in Poultry Industry at present and in the future.
A special award of appreciation was given to Dr. Rami Lam for his contribution in the field of Poultry Products Quality and numerous activities in the Israeli Branch of WPSA.
During the conference, 26 Israeli companies presented their unique products for the poultry industry: pharmaceuticals, feed additives, housing equipment, climate control, etc.
The conference was attended by approximately 500 participants: poultry producers, representatives of commercial companies serving the poultry industry, poultry veterinarians, extension specialists and scientists from the academia and research institutes.
The evening social activities included musical performances and a lecture on Israel's current events by a popular TV journalist/commentator.

Yitzhak Malka
Secretary - WPSA Israel Branch

Italy

The Italian Branch of WPSA organized the 52nd edition of its annual meeting that dealt with ‘Insects: alternative and sustainable protein sources for poultry diets?' on April 1st, 2016 in Bastia Umbra (PG) in conjunction with the 48th edition of ‘Agriumbria’ Fair. Text and slide of the presentations for this meeting can be accessed from our website:
http://www.wpsa.it/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=as002057free:category&id=46&Itemid=176. 

The Italian Branch is also actively involved in the organization of the 5th Mediterranean Poultry Summit that will be held on 20-25 October 2016 (website www.mpn-wpsa.org). See more information on this event elsewhere in this newsletter.

Japan

The 2016 Spring Meeting of the Japan Poultry Science Association was held at Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University at Musashino, Tokyo, on March 30. The meeting included a total of 58 paper presentations and luncheon seminars as well as council and general meetings.

During the Spring Meeting, four awards were given under the category of ‘students’ or ‘members aged 30 or below’ for the following excellent presentations: 1) ‘Biochemical and functional analysis of membrane rafts in chicken sperm’ by Ai Ushiyama (Tsukuba University); 2) ‘Dynamics of L cells along the crypt-villous axis in the chicken ileum’ by Kei Nishimura (Shinshu University); 3) ‘Effects of trehalose added feed on cooked odors in broiler thigh meat’ by Shoji Kakuta (Hayashibara Co., Ltd.); and 4) ‘Characteristic expression on carbonic anhydrases 4 in the eggshell gland of laying hens under heat stress conditions’ by Yuuki Hosokawa (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology). JPSA congratulated the presenters who archived the excellent presentation awards for the Spring Meeting, 2016.

The luncheon seminar was entitled ‘Development of LED house management system to improve productivity of meat-type chickens’, and it was presented by Dr. Kazuhisa Honda, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University. More than 60 scientists attended the luncheon seminar, and an active discussion was held after the presentation.

In addition, new board members for JPSA were elected during the general meeting for serving over the next two years. Dr. Kazuaki Takahashi (Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences) was elected as the new president of JPSA. Dr. Naoki Goto (ISA, Hendrix Genetics Group) and Dr. Mitsuhiro Furuse (Kyushu University) were also elected as the new vice presidents of JPSA

The 2016 Autumn Meeting of JPSA will be held at Mokusei Hall in Shizuoka city, hosted by Shizuoka University during 15–16 September. The meeting will contain an open symposium, as well as council and general meetings. The tentative title of the symposium is ‘The current state of embryo engineering and DNA recombination technology in fowls, and its new development for the industries’.

The Journal of Poultry Science (JPS, the official journal of JPSA, Impact Factor 0.802) always welcomes the submission of reviews and original papers. JPSA would like to contribute to poultry science all over the world by enhancing the international activity with the members from different countries. Thus, JPSA has a membership category for foreign citizens residing abroad as ‘Special International Member’. The page charges to publish their papers in JPS will be set at a membership price. JPSA invariably welcome new members from all over the world. Please visit the JPSA website (http://jpn-psa.jp/?lang=en) for further information.

Naoki Goto, Secretary of WPSA Japan Branch

Mauritius

The new Executive Committee for the Mauritius Branch of WPSA for the years 2016- 2019 has been constituted as follows:

• President: Dr Dewan Sibartie
• Vice President: Mr Jean Daniel Boribon
• Secretary: Mrs Micheline Seenevassen Pillay
• Assistant Secretary: Mr Bernard Larue
• Treasurer: Mr Roger Willy Poisson
• Assistant Treasurer: Mr Olivier Mailfert
• Co-opted members: Messrs Basharat Sooltangos and Iqbal Mohungoo

The Honourable Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security for Mauritius, has kindly agreed to become the Patron for the Mauritius Branch of WPSA.

Our new President will represent the Mauritius Branch during the forthcoming World Poultry Congress that will be held in Beijing from 5 - 9 September 2016. He will also make a presentation on ‘Reduction of economic losses due to Colibacillosis in broiler chickens in Mauritius through vaccination’.

In order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Mauritius Branch, the Branch plans to hold a half day Conference during the second half of September 2016. The date and venue are not yet fixed, but eminent personalities from Industry and Government are expected to be in attendance. Presentations will include: ‘The Evolution of the Poultry Industry in Mauritius’, ‘Challenges facing the Poultry Industry in Africa’, and ‘Food safety issues with respect to poultry and poultry products’.

Dr Dewan Sibartie, President

New Zealand

The New Zealand branch will hold its annual meeting and Poultry Industry Conference (NZPIC2016) on 4-6 October, 2016, in Wellington, New Zealand. For further information Contact:

Dr Reza Abdollahi
Secretary/ WPSA NZ Branch
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Email:  

Russia

Poultry breeder forum in Lipetsk

The International poultry breeder Forum has been carried out in Lipetsk town on May 23 to 27, 2016. The forum theme has been ‘Innovations in production are poultry enterprise ef-fectiveness guarantee’.
The Russian Poultry Breeding Union and FNTS ‘VNITIP’ RAN has been the event or-ganizers. OEZ ‘Lipetsk’ and ‘Terbuny’ has become the Forum platform. The world poultry cage equipment market leader the ‘Texha’ plant and the premix production plant of ‘MegaMix’ com-pany are working here.
The extensive programme has been prepared for the Forum participants of the domestic and foreign poultry expert reports. The ‘Texha’ company plant visiting has been provided by the event plan. The plant has got its own design office and produce cage equipment for poultry in-dustry. The Forum participants have been shown the robotic complex for poultry automatic un-loading.
“We bought these cages in Italy, in Germany and in The Netherlands until recently, and this plant start-up will be the outlet in this respect. But we must not stop, we must go forward constantly”, – the ‘Rosptitsesojuz’ president Vladimir Fisinin commented.
The Company share at Russia market is 10 percent now. “Our plan is to reach 50 per-cent”, - the ‘Texha’ OOO General Director Serguey Gromov said in his report at the International poultry breeder Forum.
The Company workers consider this aim to be ‘attainable and real one’ as they are sure in Russia poultry branch development prospects.
The main event of these days has taken place within the Forum on the May 26. It is the opening ceremony of the ‘MegaMix’ new producing complex for premix production.
Some Lipetskaya region leaders have taken part in the solemn complex opening: Yury-Bozhko, acting as Lipetskaya region Administration head, Nikolay Taguintsev, the deputy region head, Serguey Ivanov, the Lipetsk head, and also Vladimir Fisinin, The Russian Poultry Breeder Union president, and Serguey Barabanstchikov, the Terbun district head.
“The main is that we not start-up the plant simply, we start-up the most innovative plant. After all it is important not only to bring in premix vitamins and micro minerals but to make the high quality homogeneous mixture”, – the ‘Rosptitsesojuz’ president academician Vladimir Fisinin has emphasized.
The Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev has noted the new premix plant great im-portance for Russian agriculture on the eve of the Forum opening at the enlarged meeting of Ag-ricultural Ministry total commission on May 25.
“The plant will produce premixes (feed mixtures) for all agricultural animal and poultry species. This plant with full capacity 140,000 tons per year will be able to provide up to the half of Russian market requirement”, – said Vasiliy Frizen, the ‘MegaMix’ company General Director at the opening ceremony.
The own A class storage facility areas more than 13,000 m2.
The stuff number will be some 240 persons after the plant exit to full capacity. The company will become the largest premix producer in Russia taking into account the operating production cite in Volgograd. Serguey Vlasov has become the General Director of ‘MegaMix Center’ OOO in Lipetsk.
The project technologic partners have become the world chemical industry leader – BASF SE concern – and the Dutch equipment producer ‘Ottevanger Milling Engineers’. The main new production feature is two autonomic production lines availability one of which is in-tended for premixes with medical preparations.
The group of ‘MegaMix’ companies is the largest Russia premix producer for all agri-cultural animal and poultry species. The company is operating at the market more than 17 years. Now the company has two modern production complexes: in Volgograd town and in the Li-petsck region. The plant has undergone the testing for International quality standard accordance ISO 9001, and it is confirmed by SGS company.
‘MegaMix’ company testing laboratory has the accreditation in International ‘Analitica’ system. The research is being carried out more than on 270 indicators. This laboratory is the most modern in the branch now.
‘MegaMix’ company partners are many animal breeding and poultry breeding complexes in Russia and abroad. Each fourth feed ton in Russia is being produced at the base of ‘MegaMix’ premixes now.

Tatiana Vasilieva

South Africa

The organising committee of the South African branch of WPSA is pleased to announce that our annual Scientific Day will be held on 12 October 2016 at the CSIR in Pretoria. This will follow the AFMA symposium which will be held on 11 October 2016, as well as the AFMA & WPSA Cocktail function on the evening of the 11th.

The theme of the Scientific Day is ‘Facing the Industry Challenge’, and we are pleased to have Mr Gordon Butland, Prof Sabiha Essack, Dr Thomas Kaufman, Dr Paul Tillman, Dr Nuntawadee Sriperm and Dr Carrie Walk as confirmed speakers so far. Any queries with regards to the day can be made to Mr J du Plessis (Chairman) or Dr NC Tyler (Secretary) . 

Nicola Tyler, Secretary, South African Branch

Spain

The AECA-WPSA Spanish Branch will hold its XLLL Symposium on 29-30 September 2016 at the Veterinary School at Zaragoza University.

Program of LIII Symposium AECA-WPSA
29-30 September 2016
Veterinary School
Zaragoza University

29/09/2016. Sessions (15:30-19:50):
• Intestinal health evaluation in poultry with macroscopic coccidiosis and disbacteriosis evaluation and punctuation. Dr. Hilde Van Meirhaeghe (Vetworks)
• Campylobacter. D. Alfredo Corujo Fernández (Nutreco España)
• Ectoparasites epidemiology and control in poultry productions. Dr. Javier Lucientes Curdi (Zaragoza Veterinary School)
• Fitasas hight dossification in feed ¿ Myth or Reality? D.ª María F. Soto Salanova (AB Vista)
• Animal welfare in eggs production. Involvement of genetic selection. D. Javier Ramírez Villaescusa (Lohmann Tierzucht GMBH)

30/09/2016. Workshops (08:30-13:00):

• Intestinal health evaluation in poultry with macroscopic coccidiosis and disbacteriosis evaluation and punctuation Poultry management (measurement of environmental and welfare parameters)
• Ectoparasites epidemiology and control
• Questions I never asked about enzymes in feed formulation
• Egg quality

The Spanish Branch will also provide scholarships to two veterinary students to attend the Mediterranean Poultry Summit during October 2016.

Climent Faus

Turkey

The Turkish Branch has preparations underway for a National Congress at Samsun during 5-8 October 2016.

Prof. Dr. Rüveyde Akbay, President of the WPSA Turkish Branch
Head of the Organising Committee

United Kingdom

The WPSA UK branches annual meeting was again held at the University of Chester. About 80 delegates attended the meeting and listened to a varied programme of over 25 papers, many offered by young, enthusiastic researchers.

The invited speakers session heard Mike Toscano of University of Bern, Switzerland discuss aspects of bone health (and ill health!) in the modern laying hen, and Peter Kettlewell of SRUC considered methods of protecting poultry during transport, balancing welfare and economics.

The annual joint session with BSAS considered the intriguing topic of ‘Big Data in practice’, with thought provoking presentations from Helen Masey O’Neill of AB Agri, and Dr K. Mertens of Prophyrio NV Belgium.

A further highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Gordon Memorial Lecture. This was delivered by Prof Michael Hess of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria with the title of ‘Commensal or pathogen in chickens – a challenge to fulfil Koch’s postulates’. Prof Hess discussed the need for application of science to establish and confirm the role of specific pathogens in disease syndromes.

The Spring meeting is also an opportunity to recognise the contributions of the participants and this led to a record numbers of prizes and awards, that were given in recognition of the quality of presentations, both Oral and as Posters:

Presidents Prize (£100):
Oral: Brendan Duggan – Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS
Poster: Lucy Hood – Harper Adams University

Special Recognition Awards (£50):
Oral: Angus Reid – Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS
Poster: Joanne Atkinson – Northumbria University, and Jalil Abdulla – Harper Adams
University

Congratulations to these winners and all those who presented in Chester to ensure the high standards of excellence for which our Meeting is becoming increasingly renowned for.

Attracting applicants for our Summer Scholarships and Research Awards is another challenge, but the excellent presentations from past winners and confirmation of successful applicants for this year’s awards demonstrates that the recipients and membership benefit greatly from this initiative. Our ongoing challenge is to retain this enthusiasm and promote WPSA and the wider poultry industry as an interesting and sustainable career option for young researchers.

This year WPSA UK has awarded the following Summer Scholarships:
Melissa Zigler (Roslin): Evaluating the effect of ovodefensin variants as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (part of a larger BBSRC Link project).
Ceara Suther (Glasgow University): Are the precursors of the egg shell cuticle retained in the secretory granules of the non-ciliated cells of the shell gland of laying hens after a premature oviposition (part of a BBSRC project focusing on the genetics and physiology of cuticle deposition in meat and egg type chickens.
Jessica Stirling (Roslin): Mapping neuronal circuits underlying maternal behaviour in the chicken brain
Ben Brown (Roslin): The developmental programming of bone growth in Japanese quail using a prenatal CORT exposure protocol
Alex Desbruslais (Nottingham Trent University): Investigating the absorption and utilisation of silica in young broiler chicks

Dates for the Diary

32nd Poultry Science Symposium
3-5 July 2017
Clare College, Cambridge, UK
Poultry Feathers & Skin – the past present and future of poultry integument

WPSA UK is pleased to announce the 32nd Poultry Science Symposium that is scheduled to be held in the historic and scenic city of Cambridge in July 3-5, 2017. The theme of the symposium is ‘Poultry feathers and skin – the past, present and future of poultry integument’. The programme committee is working to ensure that this informative symposium is of wide appeal to all in the poultry industry. Please follow updates regarding the symposium at www.wpsa-uk.com. 

XVII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products
XXIII European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat
3-5 September 2017
Scientific sessions 4-5th September
John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland

The UK branch will be hosting the EggMeat symposium in 2017. More formally known as the XVII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products and the XXIII European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat. These will take place on the 3-5 September 2017 with Scientific sessions from the 4-5th September at the John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland

Contact: ;  

Further details will appear on the WPSA UK website.

Steve Lister, UK Branch Secretary

USA

Dr. Mark Lyte of Iowa State University will be the invited speaker for the WPSA Canada-USA Lecture on July 13, 2016 at the meeting of the Poultry Science Association (http://www.poultryscience.org/psa16) which will take place at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Lyte’s lecture: ‘Microbial Endocrinology: Why the Intersection of Microbiology and Neurobiology Matters to Poultry Health’ promises to be thought provoking and of great interest to the audience.

The USA branch again conducted the Cliff D. Carpenter Essay Contest. The topic of the essay was: ‘Can Poultry Feed the World in 2050?’ The three students who best addressed the topic will receive travel grants of up to $2,000 to attend the World’s Poultry Congress September 5 – 9, 2016 in Beijing, China.

Keeping with the theme of the World’s Poultry Congress, travel grants are available to individuals who are presenting papers (oral or posters) at the scientific sessions in Beijing. In order to be eligible for a travel grant of up to $1,000, the individual must be a current member and have paid dues in 2015; in addition, the individual must have an abstract which has been accepted for presentation at the meeting.

We are planning for a successful World’s Poultry Congress in Beijing on September 5–9, 2016. Information can be found at: http://www.wpc2016.cn/. The deadline for submission of abstracts was in March 2016.

Ernie Pierson, President, USA Branch
Bob Buresh, Secretary, USA Branch