Iowa State University researchers have been working on a major international project to improve the health of Africa’s small poultry flocks. Many African families rely on these indigenous birds for food security, supplying meat, eggs, and cash.
The disease poses a significant hazard to these small flocks, particularly the extremely contagious Newcastle Disease Virus. Vaccination regimens are impractical in many areas due to the dispersed character of the flocks and their interaction with wild birds. Rising temperatures exacerbate the situation by making birds more susceptible to infection.
The Nutrition Laboratory for Innovation in Poultry Developmental Genomics is a groundbreaking ten-year initiative led by distinguished scientists from Iowa State University, the University of California-Davis, and esteemed livestock research institutes in Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania. The innovative approach has already produced promising results, as detailed in a recent publication.
While robust vaccination programs in the United States have successfully mitigated the impact of NDV epidemics, the challenge remains in safeguarding the scattered herds in Africa. Esteemed professors Susan Lamont and Jack Dekkers from Iowa State have spearheaded a team of researchers to address this critical issue head-on.
“This is a new research project focused on genetic selection and genetic improvement to improve disease survival through genetic selection,” said Huaijun Zhou, project director of the Innovation Lab at UC Davis. “The program is also aimed at improving vaccine efficacy and production characteristics such as yield and growth rate.”
To increase the program’s impact on smallholder farmers, the researchers used several unique methods. The first focus groups helped them understand the farmers’ main topics, such as egg production, growth rateand resistance of the birds. In addition, compared to natural conditions, chickens are more susceptible to diseases in a natural environment than in a controlled environment.
Iowa State has focused on genetic and molecular studies investigating the response of chickens to NDV and heat stress at various levels, from cellular functions to physiological systems. Their results were to identify a variety from the Fayoum region of Egypt that was more resistant to disease and heat than the commercial Leghorn line. In addition, several genes have been identified that affect NDV replication.
“We have gathered a lot of information about these indigenous chickens,” Dekkers explains. “Previously, little was known about their genetics, susceptibility to sickness, and heat tolerance. While we haven’t found a single ‘magic gene’ for resistance, our research has identified potential new tools for improving poultry health.”
One of these tools is a low-cost genotyping platform, a simple blood test that detects genetic markers associated with increased NDV resilience. The investigation also provided crucial insights into the genetics of NDV strains found in different locations, which can help in creating more effective control techniques.
“Another significant legacy is the strengthened research capacity we’re leaving behind,” Lamont adds. “This includes improved facilities, trained personnel like researchers with advanced degrees now in faculty positions, and numerous technicians and extension specialists.”
Lamont underlines the project’s importance for women. In Africa, women often keep poultry, allowing them more control over family nutrition and money generated through egg and bird sales.
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab was primarily funded by the United States Agency for International Development, with assistance from Hy-Line International, an Iowa-based corporation. The Iowa State scientists are aggressively seeking additional funding to expand on this research.
