About UsMore about us and what we do.
SubscribeBegin your subscription today.
ArticlesFarm safety, animal care & more...
National Poultry Inprovement Plan (NPIP)
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
Theresia Lavergne, Ph.D., P.A.S. Professor – Poultry LSU AgCenter
All poultry producers (commercial producers, hobby producers, 4-H and FFA members, etc.) have the responsibility of raising and maintaining healthy, disease-free birds. Disease prevention is necessary to produce a safe and wholesome food in the form of eggs and meat. Also, disease prevention is essential in protecting poultry flocks from catastrophic diseases that would result in high mortality or having to sacrifice entire flocks (commercial or hobby).
Therefore, the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) was developed in the 1930’s to prevent poultry diseases and to improve poultry and poultry products in the United States. The NPIP is a cooperative program between the United States Department of Agriculture, the “official state agencies”, and poultry producers. In Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is the agency that administers the NPIP.
The NPIP is a voluntary program and almost all of the commercial poultry industry in the U.S. participates in the program. Participation is open to all producers, both commercial and hobby, that meet the requirements of the plan. Flocks that are in the NPIP undergo testing for diseases, such as: Pollorum disease, fowl typhoid, Salmonella enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Avian Influenza. Depending on the type of flock and disease that the birds are being tested for, the tests may be conducted on a yearly, monthly, or flock basis. For small or hobby flocks, tests are usually on an annual basis. For the commercial poultry industry, participation in the NPIP certifies that their poultry and poultry products are free from disease and allows interstate and international shipment.
If you are a commercial poultry producer in Louisiana, your integrator does participate in the NPIP as all integrators in Louisiana participate in the NPIP. If you are a hobby producer, including 4H and FFA members, you have the responsibility of maintaining a healthy flock and need to consider participating in the NPIP (if you are not already participating). All poultry going to exhibitions and shows in Louisiana are required to be tested for pollorum disease and fowl typhoid prior to going to shows, and by participating in the NPIP your flock will be tested on an annual basis and you will not have to get your birds tests prior to going to every show. For more information on the NPIP or to participate, you can contact the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry at 225-925-3980 or the Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory at 318-927-3441.
