February 1, 2006

Iraqi delegation gathers ideas at International Poultry Expo
 

A delegation from the Iraqi Poultry Producers Association (IPPA), attended last week's International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta to learn about the latest in bird-management techniques and feed milling technology, according to the US Grains Council (USGC).

In 1989-90, before the first Gulf War, Iraq imported 612,000 tonnes of corn from the US, the USGC said in a press release Friday.

"The Iraqis are interested in upgrading their facilities and upgrading their production," said Ryan LeGrand, US Grains Council manager of international operations, in the release.

One topic discussed at the poultry expo was the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu and what poultry producers in developing countries need to do to minimise the chances of their flocks getting the disease. Iraq's first bird flu-related death was reported on Monday.

Following the poultry expo, the IPPA delegation, accompanied by a member of the USGC, was expected to travel to Kansas to meet with several industry groups and tour several feed mills and poultry facilities, the release said.