About the NPIP

Raising chickens, turkeys, and other types of poultry--whether done for profit or pleasure--entails undertaking the serious responsibility of disease prevention. Probably the greatest single factor which limited the early expansion of the U.S. poultry industry was the disease known as Bacillary White Diarrhea (BWD), caused by Salmonella pullorum. This disease, later called pullorum disease, was rampant in poultry and could cause upwards of 80 percent mortality in baby poultry. Poultrymen recognized the problem, but were unable to manage it until the causative organism was discovered by Dr. Leo Rettger in 1899 and a diagnostic blood test was developed by Dr. F.S. Jones in 1913.

Following these two discoveries, individual poultrymen started to test their birds for pullorum disease and eliminate the reactors from the breeding flocks. But the disease was so widespread that a coordinated effort was necessary. A number of States started statewide pullorum testing programs in the early 1920's; and before long, a few breeding flocks were being identified as free of pullorum.

About this same time, some of the early poultrymen started to exert a conscientious effort to improve the genetic production capabilities of their stock. Even though a thorough understanding of genetics was lacking, considerable improvement was made through trapnesting programs which identified superior individual birds. This would be expanded later to include individual male matings and family selection as tools to improve production potential.

As news of the availability of better stock spread and as better transportation of baby poultry became available, largely through the U.S. mail, breeders became overwhelmed with orders for baby poultry from all over the country. It was then more important than ever, that stock be free of pullorum disease and that production efficiencies be improved to even higher levels.

Equally important was terminology. States having pullorum testing programs devised their own criteria and terminology to identify the various levels of freedom from the disease. Those having statewide breeding programs also used sundry terms which meant different things to different people. With the distribution of stock over a wide geographical area, it soon became apparent that nationwide criteria and touchstone terminology for both breeding and disease control programs were necessary for the poultry industry to take advantage of the improvements which were being made.

The objective of the National Poultry Improvement Plan is to provide a cooperative Industry-State-Federal program through which new technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country. The provisions of the Plan, developed jointly by industry members and State and Federal Officials, establish standards for the evaluation of poultry breeding stock and hatchery products with the respect freedom from hatchery-disseminated diseases. Products conforming to specific standards are identified by authorized terms that are uniformly applicable in all parts of the country.

The provisions of the Plan are changed from time to time to conform with the development of the industry and utilize new information as it becomes available. These changes are based upon recommendations made at the National Plan Conferences by official delegates representing participating flock owners, breeders, and hatchery owners from all cooperating States, in accordance with Chapter 1, title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 147, Subpart E.

Acceptance of the Plan is optional with the States and individual members of the industry within the States. The Plan is administered in each State by an Official State Agency cooperating with the USDA.

The NPIP have active control programs for Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Salmonella enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycopplasma synoviae, and Mycoplasma meleagridis.