The Turkey Talk Show

Informed and Aware: Human Vaccines & Student Research

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Turkey Talk Show, Sheila and Gretta dive into a new topic for the industry: the role of human vaccines in turkey farming. They discuss why turkey farmers and their employees should get educated about vaccines for seasonal flu and COVID-19, as well as when and where to get vaccinated. Andrew from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services joins to explain the importance of vaccination, especially in light of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), and provides resources for farmers on vaccine access and funding. The episode also highlights research from Iowa State University, featuring Dr. Dawn Koltes and graduate students Brooke and Zoie. They share insights from the university's research farm, established in 2022, which uses poults from Aviagen and Hybrid Turkeys, mirroring commercial turkey operations. Throughout the episode, Sheila and Gretta emphasize the importance of staying informed, communicating research ideas, and not letting things out of their control, like poor hotel pillows, get them down. They encourage listeners to get educated about vaccines, support research efforts, and tune in for future episodes of The Turkey Talk Show.

Episode Notes

Podcast Episode Notes: The Turkey Talk Show - Human Vaccines and ISU Research

Hosts: Sheila & Gretta

Episode Overview: In this episode, Sheila and Gretta explore the role of human vaccines in the turkey farming industry, discussing why turkey farmers and their employees should get educated about vaccines for seasonal flu and COVID-19. They also feature insights from Iowa State University’s research farm, where groundbreaking studies on turkey farming are being conducted.

Key Topics:

Human Vaccines in the Turkey Industry:

• Why turkey farmers and workers should get vaccinated for seasonal flu and COVID.
• When and where vaccinations should be administered.
• Andrew from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services discusses vaccination programs and funding.
• Vaccination recommendations for workers with underlying conditions and those at higher risk.
• The connection between HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and human health.

Iowa State University Research Farm:

• Dr. Dawn Koltes and students Brooke and Zoie share their research and experiences at the ISU Research Farm, which was completed in 2022.
• Poults from Aviagen and Hybrid Turkeys are used in research, mirroring commercial farm conditions.
• The significance of ongoing research to improve turkey farming practices.

Fun Moment:

• Discussion on the recent ITF Board Retreat, where board members rated the meeting based on various factors, including hotel pillows. Sheila and Gretta emphasize that some things, like hotel amenities, are beyond their control—mirroring challenges in the turkey industry.

Call to Action:

• Get educated about available vaccines.
• Share research ideas with Sheila, Gretta, or Dr. Koltes.
• Don't let factors outside of your control affect your outlook on the industry.

Special Guests:

• Dr. Andrew Hennenfent – Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (discussing vaccination programs).
• Dr. Dawn Koltes, Brooke, and Zoie – Iowa State University (sharing insights from their turkey farming research).

Sponsors:

• Hybrid Turkeys
• Aviagen Turkeys

Resources:

• For more information on vaccines, contact Andrew Hennenfent at andrew.hennenfent@hhs.iowa.gov.

Closing: Thank you for listening to The Turkey Talk Show. Sheila and Gretta remind listeners to stay informed, communicate research ideas, and keep a positive attitude despite challenges. Join them next time for more insights and information from the turkey farming industry.

From our flock to yours – thanks for tuning in!