Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Animal & Plant Health Protection
Animal Health

National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

The NPIP is an industry-state-federal program for the improvement of poultry and poultry products. It establishes standards for the evaluation of poultry breeding stock and hatchery products with respect to freedom from hatchery-disseminated diseases. The NPIP has active control programs for Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Salmonella enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Mycoplasma meleagridis.

Definition of Poultry

Poultry shall mean domesticated fowl, including chickens, turkeys, ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, waterfowl, and game birds, except doves and pigeons, which are bred for the primary purpose of producing eggs or meat.

Participation in the NPIP program in Nebraska

A. Independent Flock Owners of Waterfowl, Exhibition Poultry, and Game Birds

Independent breeding flocks that would like to participate in the NPIP program are required to sign a participating agreement, and

Annually test at the following rates:

Flock size 1 - 30 .. test all
Flock size 31 - 300 . . . . .test 30
Flock size > 300. . .. test 10% up to 300 maximum

Game birds are not addressed in the Nebraska Poultry Disease Control Act. They should be an NPIP participating flock if they are selling hatching eggs or birds interstate.

B. Hatcheries
1. Must sign a participating agreement and submit the appropriate fee; and

2. Will be inspected at least once per year; and

3. Affiliated flocks are required to test breeding stock at the following rate:

Flock size 1 - 30 . test all
Flock size 31 - 300 . . test 30
Flock size > 300. . test 10% up to 300 maximum

C. Dealers
1. Must sign a participating agreement; and

2. Will be inspected at least once annually; and

3. Must obtain their poultry from NPIP participating flocks and hatcheries.

D. Authorized Blood Testing Agents
1. Individuals requesting to be an authorized blood testing agent are required to:

Sign an agreement that they will meet the requirements set forth in the NPIP Program; and
Provide their own supplies, including antigen, for the NPIP testing.

2. They must be approved for the current year by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Importation of Poultry

All hatching eggs and poultry imported into Nebraska must originate from NPIP participating flocks, hatcheries, dealers, or a flock of equivalent status, or tested and found negative for pullorum and typhoid.

All poultry imported into the state must be accompanied by a permit and a VS Form 9-3 (if less than eight weeks of age) or a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

Exhibition and Sale of Poultry

The 2001 Unicameral passed legislation that allowed for the revision of the Poultry Disease Control Regulations. The major changes in the regulations were to remove the requirement for a change of ownership test for poultry sold within the state and the requirement for all poultry to be tested prior to being exhibited. These two changes greatly reduced the testing requirements for Nebraska poultry producers.

To maintain our pullorum typhoid-free status, the State must conduct a surveillance testing program. The Bureau will conduct testing of poultry over four months of age at exhibitions. Poultry exempt from testing will be:

Poultry which have individual identification and have tested negative for pullorum and typhoid within 90 days of the exhibition; or
Poultry which originate from a NPIP participating flock.

Exotic Sales/Swap Meets

1. All animals, except fish and reptiles, coming into Nebraska, require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

2. All hatching eggs and poultry imported shall originate from a NPIP participating flock or hatchery or be tested prior to entry.

3. Nebraska-origin hatching eggs and poultry do not need to be tested to be sold within the state.

4. Current regulations do not require a veterinarian to be present at the sale, however, if animals are moving interstate, the out-of-state purchaser is responsible for meeting the import requirements of the state of destination.

Administration

Fees for participation in the NPIP program are handled by the Nebraska Poultry Improvement Association (NPIA).

Nebraska Poultry Industries
University of Nebraska
A103 Animal Science
Lincoln, NE 68583-0940
Phone: 402-472-2051
Fax: 402-472-4607

Nebraska Department of Agriculture
For more information about the NPIP Program in Nebraska contact:

Animal Health
P.O. Box 94787
Lincoln, NE 68509-4787
Phone: 402-471-2351
Fax: 402-471-6893

USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services

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