Prestage Department of Poultry Science professor Ken Anderson has been investigating solutions to a tricky problem. Now, his research has been awarded the 2019 Charles Beard Research Excellence Award by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPoultry) and impacted U.S. policy.

The Charles Beard Research Excellence Award recognizes outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, that have had a significant positive impact on the poultry industry. USPoultry presented the award to Anderson during the 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, GA.

The problem addressed by Anderson’s research is simple, but the answers haven’t been. When a flock of laying hens, broilers, or turkeys are hit with a disease that can’t be treated, how should poultry companies respond?

“Dr. Anderson’s research program is a great example of how USPOULTRY research funds can be directed toward important applied research to find solutions to current problems faced by the poultry industry. The quality of Dr. Anderson’s research is outstanding and the results will be used by the poultry industry to make improvements in the response to devastating disease outbreaks,” according to John Glisson, USPOULTRY Vice President for Research Programs.

In an animated presentation given during TECHTalks at IPPE, Anderson shared how his team developed ventilation shutdown (VSD+), how it works, and why it’s an important way to address animal welfare and economic concerns in the event of a disease outbreak. Glisson introduced Anderson, calling his research uniquely impactful.