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National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Program

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Introduction

Modern poultry enthusiasts and industry members use the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) to protect and improve flock health and to sell disease-free poultry nationwide. The Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) uses the NPIP program to protect Mississippi’s poultry sector.

Through the program, MBAH works with NPIP participants to test poultry for Salmonella pullorum, avian influenza, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Mycoplasma synoviae using tests and methods that meet or exceed NPIP program standards.

Benefits of NPIP participation

  • Monitors the health of your flock and provides certification through regular testing
  • Promotes interstate movement and shipment of poultry
  • Limits the likelihood of introduction of disease into your flock through continued purchasing of NPIP certified birds and enhanced biosecurity practices
  • Participation enables you to sell birds to other NPIP members without additional testing
  • The certification can be used as a promotional tool for your poultry business
  • Fulfills many exhibition requirements at poultry shows. This is useful because states with NPIP Pullorum-Typhoid Clean status must receive negative test results for birds at shows and fairs in their state.

Program requirements

  • Submit your application. Once it has been processed, the MBAH employee in your area will contact you to set up an inspection and flock testing appointment
  • Have an annual flock and premises inspection and to test for Salmonella pullorum
  • Keep records of poultry purchases using VS 9-3 forms (Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs, Chicks and Poults)
  • Submit electronic VS 9-3 forms to MBAH within seven days of poultry or hatching egg shipment or movement

 

Testing Programs and Fees

A one-time application is required to enroll in NPIP. There is no fee for program participation.

There are three NPIP options available in Mississippi:

  • Mississippi Pullorum Typhoid Program (MSPT) – Testing for Salmonella Pullorum is the cornerstone of NPIP participation and as such is mandatory for all participants annually. This is a great option for anyone wanting to sell eggs at farmers markets or sell/trade birds only in Mississippi. This includes yearly testing a percentage of adult birds, over 5 months of age, for Pullorum Typhoid (PT) and Avian influenza (AI). The Mississippi Pullorum Typhoid Program (MSPT) allows you to travel with birds/eggs legally in Mississippi. The on-farm test requires only a drop of blood for most poultry species. Turkeys must be tested using a laboratory blood test.
  • National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP PT) – This is a great option for anyone that buys/trades only with other NPIP members, anyone wanting to sell eggs at farmers markets, and or sell birds only in Mississippi. This includes yearly testing a percentage of adult birds, over 5 months of age, for Pullorum Typhoid (PT) and includes testing for Avian Influenza (AI). The National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP PT) allows you to travel with birds/eggs legally in Mississippi.
  • National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP PT/AI) – This option is for anyone that buys/trades only with other NPIP members, participates in poultry shows, and/or sells birds outside of Mississippi. This includes yearly testing a percentage of adult birds, over 5 months of age, for Pullorum Typhoid (PT) and Avian Influenza (AI) every 180 days. The National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP PT/AI) allows you to travel with birds/eggs legally in Mississippi or other approved states.

Background information

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a program with roots as far back as the 1930s in the United States. Originally the main objective or NPIP was to eliminate Salmonella pullorum, a type of Salmonella bacteria also known as “pullorum disease,” which infects domestic chickens. This disease also affects turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl, pheasants, quail, geese, pigeons, parakeets and canaries.

Pullorum disease is easily spread by contaminated dust, litter, feed, water and other contaminated materials. The disease also spreads from sick carrier hens to their eggs, thus infecting the chick. In the 1920s and 1930s, this disease was devastating to the United States poultry industry, killing upwards of 80% of young poultry, and causing loss of productivity in adult birds.

Pullorum disease was becoming widespread due to the infectious nature of the disease and the increasing ability to purchase and sell poultry through the postal service. A nationwide collaborative avian health effort amongst the states was needed to combat further spread. Several states started statewide pullorum testing programs, eradicating reactors from their breeding poultry flocks and identifying pullorum-free flocks. Other states began to follow suit, establishing a national network of disease-free poultry.

The NPIP program continues to change and develop today. In addition to testing for pullorum disease, the modern NPIP in Mississippi tests for poultry diseases such as avian influenza, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Mycoplasma synoviae. Modern poultry enthusiasts and industry members use the NPIP to protect and improve flock health and to sell disease-free poultry nationwide.

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