The Saskatchewan Chicken Industry Investment and Development Fund

What's New

Quarterly Report to Shareholders — Third Quarter 2009

There was one Board Meeting during the third quarter. At this meeting, Cliff Welfing was reappointed Chairperson, Nelson Keet was appointed Vice-Chairperson and James Dyck was appointed Secretary-Treasurer. Rosanne Griffin announced her resignation as Executive Assistant to the Board. The Board thanked Rosanne for her exceptional service to the Board and wished her success in her future endeavors. Rosanne’s duties have been assumed by Gale Kellington and the business office for both funds has been moved to the CFS headquarters.

Administrative expenses for the quarter were $36,002 compared to the budget of $39,716. Administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2009 are estimated at $87,604 compared to the budget of $105,148 and $79,344 for the same period in 2008. Administrative expenses include expenses incurred by the Trustees and charged to SCIIF. Trustee expenses are estimated at $14,700 to September 30. There have been three regular Board Meetings during 2009, the same as in 2008.

Two applied poultry projects were approved for funding at the August Board Meeting:

• Dr. B. Allan, VIDO, University of Saskatchewan, ‘A New Model for Controlling Septicaemia in Broiler Chickens using Host Defense Peptides’, $42,000 over three years.
• Dr. H. Classen, University of Saskatchewan, ‘Assessing Behavior, the Thermal Environment and Nutrient Intake in Relationship to Bird Welfare in Turkeys and Other Poultry Stocks’, $6,184 in 2009.

Summaries for each of these projects will soon be posted to the fund's website at www.sciif.org.

The Board also approved funding of $5,100 to participate in an initiative of the Poultry Industry Council to develop a complimentary energy decision support tool to enable producers to make objective decisions about the selection of complimentary energy systems. Funding of $5,000 was also approved to partner with the CFS in the Agriculture in the Classroom program for 2010.

The Board reviewed and approved progress reports for the following projects:

• Dr. T. Crowe, University of Saskatchewan, ‘Engineering, Animal Welfare and Meat Quality Considerations of Broiler Transportation in Heated and Ventilated Vehicles’.
• Dr. G. Fasenko, University of Alberta, ‘Omphalitis and Broiler Chick Quality: Examining the Morphology and Microbiology of Yolk Sacs’.
• Dr. K. Machin, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, ‘Investigation of Stress Biomarkers to Evaluate Effect of Dark Exposure on Production of Broilers Marketed at 39 Days’.
• Dr. S. Sharif, University of Guelph, ‘Studies of Immune Response to Avian Influenza in Chickens’.

The Board also reviewed and approved the final reports for the following projects:

• Dr. J. Prescott, University of Guelph, ‘Oral Immunization of Broiler Chickens Against Necrotic Enteritis and Other Enteric Bacteria Using and Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine’.
• Dr. H. Classen, University of Saskatchewan, ‘Optimizing the Feeding of Young Broilders Using Saskatchewan Feed Ingredients’.

The findings from Dr. Classen’s project were presented at the AGM in March 2008. Dr. Prescott’s report will be presented at the AGM in March 2010.

There was some progress on the reorganization of the funds during the quarter. The Reorganization Committee received input from legal and accounting advisors and made a joint presentation to the CFS and SCIIF/SCIDF Boards at the August Board Meeting. Draft regulations have been received from Saskatchewan Justice and are currently being reviewed. An update will be provided at the October producer meetings.

SCIIF/SCIDF Board of Directors

Saskatchewan Chicken Industry Investment Fund and Development Fund office moves to Saskatoon

On August 27, 2009 the Saskatchewan Chicken Industry Investment Fund and Development Fund office relocated to 15-2220 Northridge Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7L 6X8. The new Executive Assistant is Gale Kellington. Gale can be reached by phone at (306)242-3240 or fax at (306)242-3286 or email gale@saskatchewanchicken.ca.