Reovirus is one of the turkey industry’s biggest animal health concerns, but options to battle the disease are limited.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) and its foundation board hopes to change that, Lindy Chiaia, NTF vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs said on April 17 at the 2024 PEAK convention in Minneapolis.
Chiaia said NTF conducts an industry survey in which its members are asked that diseases are the most concerning to them, and for the past 5-10 years, reovirus has regularly ranked near the top.
A 2019 NTF study showed that about 2% of turkeys were impacted by reovirus, and about 5% of the toms produced in 2019 were affected by it.
Not only do producers want their birds to avoid the lameness and swelling that is associated with reovirus, they also want to have reovirus-free flocks for financial reasons. That same 2019 NTF study showed that there was about an increase in cost per pound of about 5.5 cents for impacted flocks, with some instances showing about a 15-cent increase.
Chiaia pointed out that the cost per pound for reovirus-affected flocks is likely more in 2024 because of inflation.
Fundraising campaign under way
NTF for the past several years has been exploring research opportunities and having discussions related to tackling the reovirus issue, and as recently as February, the NTF Foundation Board approved a project that it hopes can make progress in that area.
“The fundraising for pledges is underway to put together some funds that would be for a project that provides a reward for the development and successful marketing of a diagnostic tool that’s specific to the turkey industry and then a vaccine that could aid in reducing the impact of reovirus,” she said.
“They’re in the early days of fundraising, but that’s one that we’re excited about. Hopefully, we’ll get some more eyes on getting some solutions for the industry.”
