FFAR Grant to Address Reemergence of Costly Viral Turkey Disease

WASHINGTON (November 25, 2019) – Turkey arthritis reovirus (TARV) is a poultry virus that infects up to 70 percent of US turkey flocks and has been reported in all turkey producing states. The disease causes lameness in turkeys and economic losses for producers. While arthritis reovirus in chickens is well documented, little is known about TARV transmission. To understand TARV, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), along with Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council and the University of Minnesota, awarded a $100,000 Rapid Outcomes from Agriculture Research (ROAR) grant to the University of Minnesota to track how the virus is spread and when to best administer a preventative vaccine.

“Turkey welfare and producers’ bottom lines are negatively affected by TARV,” said FFAR’s Executive Director Dr. Sally Rockey. “This research will inform the next generation of TARV mitigation techniques, improve animal welfare and protect a Thanksgiving staple.”

TARV was briefly an issue for turkey producers in the 1980s, but the condition disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The virus reemerged in 2011, causing lameness, as well as swelling and increased fluid in one or both hocks, a turkey’s leg joint. This leads to substantial economic losses for producers through increased culling and mortality, increased condemnation rates, poor feed efficiency and low rates of weight gain.

When clinical signs of TARV reappeared in 2011, autogenous vaccines were developed to stave off the infection. However, many vaccines are now ineffective as the virus strain has evolved. University of Minnesota researchers are studying five groups of TARV-infected turkeys at different ages to determine when the turkeys are susceptible to the infection, how the virus spreads and if there is an age at which they are no longer susceptible to the virus. Ultimately, this information will inform vaccination strategies, clarify when young turkeys should be vaccinated and how pens should be arranged or cleaned to prevent TARV’s spread.

The US is expected to produce more than 240 million turkeys this year and Minnesota will lead the way by with a projected 40 million birds raised on 600 farms, creating over 30,000 jobs.

This research effort is funded through FFAR’s ROAR program, which rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. FFAR contributed $49,000 to this $100,000 effort, with matching funds from Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council and the University of Minnesota.

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization originally established by bipartisan Congressional support in the 2014 Farm Bill, builds unique partnerships to support innovative and actionable science addressing today’s food and agriculture challenges. FFAR leverages public and private resources to increase the scientific and technological research, innovation and partnerships critical to enhancing sustainable production of nutritious food for a growing global population. The FFAR Board of Directors is chaired by Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum, Ph.D. and includes ex officio representation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation.

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