Egg Industry Center announces 2015 Research Requests for Pre-proposals

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)—H5N2 outbreak is taking a devastating toll on the poultry industry, and the sustainable supply of affordable poultry meat and eggs to consumers. Research is urgently needed to better understand the etiology and transmission of the disease and to explore effective means of intervention, mitigation and prevention.
Therefore, the Egg Industry Center’s 2015 Request for Proposal (RFP) is designated to address HPAI-related issues. The overarching goals of the RFP are a) to determine the etiology and mode of transmission of the virus, and b) to explore mitigation means to reduce its spread and prevent it from reoccurrence.
Specific research areas include:


1. Determine the genotype of the virus (H5N2)
2. Determine how the virus is transmitted from farm to farm and within a farm
3. Determine the airborne concentration of the virus that will cause infection of the birds
4. Explore new mitigation and preventative strategies
5. Investigate alternative euthanasia methods for large flocks in an emergency situation like this.
6. Due to the current AI crisis, projects with a one-year timeline or less are appreciated, but not required.
Pre-proposal content (maximum of 2 pages, 12 Times New Roman font)


• A descriptive title of project
• Name of principal investigator
• PI’s affiliation and contact information
• Co-investigators and affiliations
• Estimated project timeframe (begin and end) and fund request (Note: EIC does not fund indirect cost)
• Statement of the issue: Clear statement of the current issue and/or research questions the project will address
• Project objectives: Clear, concise and complete statement of the specific project objectives
• Methodology: Brief description of how the data will be collected, analyzed and interpreted
• Expected outcomes and values to the stakeholders: Clear description of the expected results and their value to the egg industry and consumers
Pre-proposals must be received by COB June 3, 2015. Submit pre-proposal electronically to Lesa Vold at lvoid@lastate.edu  Also, any questions may be submitted through Vold’s email.
Pre-proposals will be evaluated for relevance to the identified topics, scientific merit, potential impact, qualifications of the project personnel and appropriateness of the timeline and proposed budget. An invitation for full proposals for funding rests with the EIC Board of Directors, and this decision will be determined by the end of July. 

Egg Industry Center to fund research projects

The Egg Industry Center (EIC) is seeking pre-proposals for egg industry-oriented research to fund through its grant award program. The EIC research grant program is intended to focus research on the top concerns in the egg industry while providing a platform to explore other opportunities for the industry’s future.
The IEC’s call for proposals primarily targets the following areas:


• Egg quality and egg safety
• Prevention and intervention of focal duodenal necrosis disease in laying hens
• Behaviors of laying hens in enriched colony housing systems
• Alternative uses of egg yolk in piglet diets for enhanced piglet health
• Responses of laying hens to lighting management and economic implications
• Practical mitigation of emissions
“The number of pre-proposals in response to the 2013 call created a highly competitive selection process,” said Hongwei Xin, director of the EIC and Iowa State University (ISU) professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and animal science. “The 24 submissions highlighted even more the need for the research endowment the center has established to serve industry and those affected by it.”
Researchers can find submission information at on the EIC website. The deadline for pre-proposals is June 16. After a review of the pre-proposals, finalists will be notified to submit a full proposal for further consideration.
The full proposals will be reviewed by a committee of area-specific experts for scientific merits. The committee submits evaluations to the EIC Board of Directors, which determines the winning proposals.
The board consists of producers, industry and academic leaders from across the United States and Canada. This group annually identifies a list of targeted research topics included in the Request for Proposal and a broader list of research priorities.
The Egg Industry Center was established at ISU in 2008. Its mission is to add value to the egg industry by facilitating research and learning for egg producers, processors and consumers through national and international collaboration.

EIC releases US national flock performance study

Part 11(EEU34) of a U.S. national flock performance study titled "Flock Profiling Software and Replacement Program Evaluation–2010" has been released by the Egg Industry Center and the University of California-Riverside.
The report provides a benchmark for the production of white egg strains with tables depicting livability, hen-day egg production, egg weight and feed consumption. The report also shows grade distribution, feed costs and revenue by grade for the period during which the survey was conducted. The live-bird production parameters are of value to all producers, although it will be necessary to adjust financial data to reflect the recent escalation in feed costs and the prevailing value of eggs. Interpretation of the figures presented should take into account the specific structure, housing systems of a farm or complex when comparing production parameters with those depicted in the study.

Egg Industry Center reports on molting

The EIC evaluated records from 12 producer companies using an 80-week, single-cycle program and a 110-week two-cycle program with molting at 70 weeks.

Part five of the Egg Industry Center review of egg production reported on the financial impact of molting. The report (EEU328) dated December 29, 2010 is accessable through the EIC and maro@iastate.edu.
Guided by Don Bell, software was developed, permitting input of production data and price information. The EIC evaluated records from 12 producer companies using an 80-week, single-cycle program and a 110-week two-cycle program with molting at 70 weeks. Eight of the 12 companies demonstrated higher returns with the 80-week program. The 52-week average profit from the 80-week program followed by 12 companies was $4.01 compared to $4.10 for the two-cycle 110-week program.
Further details relating to hen-housed egg production, weekly mortality, case weight and daily feed intake can be reviewed in the report. The averages are indicated in the table below:

Parameter	80 week	70 + 40 weeks
52-week profit	$4.01	$4.10
Hen-housed eggs	340	457
Av.weekly mortality	0.16%	0.19%
Case weight	47.5 lb	48.1 lb
Feed intake per hen	0.220 lb	0.280 lb
Feed conversion	3.24	3.43

EIC documents escalation in feed costs July to Sept.

The Egg Industry Center has issued Report No. 8, detailing layer feed cost for September 2010. The following table documents the increase in the cost of layer feed, corn and soybean meal for the third quarter of 2010. The escalation in cost is basically attributed to the rise in corn as noted in the table. More information can be obtained from Program Manager Maro Ibarburu.

AVERAGE U.S. LAYER FEED AND INGREDIENT COSTS

Flock size, price projections

Don Bell of the University of California in association with the Egg Industry Center at the University of Iowa has released a summary of flock size and egg price projections dated August 2. The table below shows the respective values for hen numbers and Urner-Barry Midwest large grade for September 2010 through May 2011. Values are based on an upgraded model which is revised monthly.
The estimates for flock size during the remainder of 2010 denote a higher number of replacement pullets and reduced molting. Values for replacements are based on a five-year rate from 2005-2010, averaging 5.8% of the national flock per month. Depletion over the same period is calculated on a 1.85% per month average and the value for “dead and missing” for 2010 and 2011 was set at 4.32% per month. Yearly average counts for hens producing table eggs were 280.2 million for 2008 and 280.4 million in 2009. The June 2010 average for the number of laying hens was 280.0 million, an increase of 3.0 million birds over the 2009 value of 277.0 million.
In comparing the actual and estimated egg prices from January 2010 onwards, it is noted that there is a close correspondence between the actual monthly average egg price and the forecasts developed during the three preceding months. Projections as much as seven months in advance have tended to overstate prices.
Although the August projection of egg prices denotes an increase in revenue, it is not expected that margins will improve since there is an obvious trend in escalation of feed prices. This is in part associated with an increase in the cost of corn which exceeded $4.00 per bushel at the beginning of August. A number of factors are influencing the price of corn including the USDA revision in the 2010 harvest, fall in the value of the U.S. dollar, a delay in planting due to unseasonably wet weather in Argentina.
The severe drought in the Russian Federation will markedly reduce wheat yield, resulting in the need to import grain. Demand by consumers in China and India will also have an effect on the balance between world supply of grains and oilseeds and demand for these ingredients. Diversion of one-third of the U.S. corn crop to ethanol production may be tolerable in a year of bountiful production and stability in world supply but the impact of the Renewable Fuels Initiative will become more evident in a year in which international demand for grain increases.
Flock Size & Price Projections Chart

Production, feed costs for July 2010

The July 26 Layer Feed Price and Costs newsletter issued by the Egg Industry Center indicates an increase in feed prices and hence cost of production. Average U.S. feed cost increased by $2.89 per ton to $205.40 per ton compared to June. Production cost ex-farm/house advanced by 1.43 cents per dozen from June to 58.41 cents per dozen in July. Feed price by region ranged from $180.80/ ton in the Midwest to $223.00/ton in California. Production cost ranged from 53.54 cents per dozen in the Midwest to 62.07 cents per dozen in California.
Production cost included feed, labor (at 4 cents per dozen), buildings and equipment (at 2.9 cents per dozen), interest (at 1.8 cents per dozen) and miscellaneous cost (at 6 cents per dozen). The major contributor to the regional difference in feed cost was the differential in corn and soybean meal amounting to $52.70 per ton for corn and $31.80 per ton for soybean meal comparing Midwest and California ingredient prices respectively.

Egg Industry Center reports on February feed prices, production costs

A March report on feed prices issued by the Egg Industry Center at Iowa State University documents that U.S. average feed costs dipped below $200 per ton in February, with an average of $195 per ton. Prices ranged from $173 per ton in the Midwest to $223 per ton in California.
Production cost in February was 58.3 cents per dozen, with a range of 53.9 cents per dozen in the Midwest to 64.3 cents per dozen in California. Feed represented 60.7% of nest run costs.
The report was authored by Marco Ibarburu and Don Bell.