**Testimony of**

**Spangler Klopp, DVM**

**Diplomat, American College of Poultry Veterinarians**

**Corporate Veterinarian**

**Townsends, Inc.**

**Georgetown, Delaware**

**On Behalf of the**

**National Chicken Council**

**Before the**

**U.S. House of Representatives**

**Committee on Agriculture**

**Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy & Poultry**

**The Advances of Animal Health**

**Within the Livestock Industry**

**September 25, 2008**

Good morning Chairman Boswell, Congressman Hayes, and members of the
Subcommittee. Thank you, Chairman Boswell for the opportunity to
participate in this important hearing on the advances of animal health
with the livestock industry. On behalf of the National Chicken Council,
I appreciate your invitation to provide comments on the advances in
chicken health in the U.S. chicken industry.

My name is Spangler Klopp and I am the corporate veterinarian at
Townsends, Inc. and former chairman of the National Chicken Council
Poultry Health Committee.

The raising of chickens to produce food for human consumption has made
exceptional advances over the decades due in large part to ingenuity and
intelligence in following the lead of the sciences and a great deal of
hard work. Today's broiler chicken industry processes approximately 9
billion chickens/year, representing over \$37 billion dollars in value.
These chickens are raised to an average live weight of 5.53 lbs with a
75% yield at processing resulting in approximately 37.5 billion pounds
of chicken meat, valued at over \$37 billion, for human consumption. The
broiler industry contributes to sustainable agriculture by raising its
chickens on approximately 34,000 independently owned and operated farms.

Maintaining the health of chicken flocks is predicated on disease
prevention through vaccination, appropriate use of antibiotics and other
antimicrobials and sound poultry husbandry. Critical measurement
parameters for chicken performance are rate of gain, (Average Daily Gain
or ADG), percentage livability, (number of chicks placed divided by
number moved to processing), percentage condemnation at processing,
(number of carcasses deemed unfit by USDA for human consumption divided
by the number of chickens processed).

Vaccines control diseases that cannot be controlled by antibiotics and
husbandry. Antibiotics are used for control of specific bacterial and
parasitic diseases especially those of the gastrointestinal tract. Such
usages allow for improved health as indicated by improved livability,
average daily gain and carcass condemnation at processing

**ADG** in the early 1970's was defined as 4-pound live weight at 56
days of age or .0714-pound ADG. Today, the approximate figure for ADG is
.1139 based on an average processing weight of 5.53 pounds. This
represents a 160% increase in efficiency and that much more meat per
chicken. Without today's technologies, approximately 2,484,000,000 more
chickens would be required annually to meet the food demands of the
American Public.

**Percentage livability** was approximately 93.52 in the early 1980s and
the figure for today is approximately 95.64. This represents a real
improvement of 2.12% and that much more meat per flock. Based on the
national figure of 9 billion chickens processed, without this
improvement in livability, an additional 190,800,000-day-old chicks
would have to be placed annually to meet the needs of the American
Public

**Condemnation percentage** improvement, shown below, in the past 42
years is 456% and represents improved meat quality, from taste,
nutritional and microbiological aspects. If condemnations were at the
level of earlier years, another 155,700,000 chickens would have to be
grown annually to meet the needs of the American Public. Collectively,
if the industry was not allowed use of appropriate interventions, an
additional 2,830,500,000 chickens would have to be grown and processed
annually to meet the needs of the American Public

Percentage Field Related USDA Carcass Condemnation of

Broiler Chickens for Two Selected Years

+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Category**                | **1965\***        | **2007\***        |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| # Leukosis                  | **.512**          | **.028**          |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Septicemia/Toxemia**      | **.563**          | **.238**          |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Airsacculitis**           | **.922**          | **.109**          |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Inflammatory process      | **.128**          | **.113**          |
| (IP)**                      |                   |                   |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **Synovitis**               | **.102**          | **.0003**         |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| **TOTAL FIELD**             | **2.227**         | **0.4883**        |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

\*Dr. L.V. Sanders, USDA, National meeting on Poultry Condemnations,
Salisbury, MD, October 18-19, 1966

\*\*NASS/USDA/Slaughter Report, January-December, 2007, converted to
percentages

It is important to remember that broiler chickens are free roaming and
have certain natural tendencies, which include "picking at the ground or
litter." Thus disease control becomes a function of maintaining a
balance between the chicken and its environment. Vaccines and
antibiotics have played significant roles in the improvement of the
health parameters cited above and are valued accordingly. Their usage is
rigidly monitored by educated and trained professionals.

The development of antibiotic resistant bacteria has been a concern of
the industry long before the subject became popular with others and is
viewed even more importantly today. Sound usage/rotational programs,
proper pharmaceutical selection for use and use of proper dosage regimes
have allowed for the continued effectiveness of antibiotics, some of
which have been in use for over 25 years. Maintenance of antibiotic
sensitivity at the chicken house level is an important issue.

Good chicken health through the responsible use of vaccines and
antibiotics is obviously important in feeding the American Public and is
equally important in enhancing the quality of the environment and
socioeconomic style of life in rural America. Healthy chickens require
less feed while using less housing space, produce less manure and
produce more meat as compared to the option of not having these
important interventions for our use.

In my current experience of producing chickens raised without
antibiotics, those flocks have a 2.91% lower livability, 0.0033 lower
ADG and a 0**.**275% higher condemnation. This may be fine for niche
markets that cater to consumers who can afford to pay higher prices for
chicken. But as I previously noted, without the use of appropriate
interventions, an additional 2,830,500,000 chickens would have to be
grown each year to meet the needs of the American public. Additionally,
this loss would result not only in less food but also at a higher cost
with more potential issues to the environment and to the way of life in
rural America.

In conclusion, it is apparent that antibiotics are important in disease
control or as described in today's vernacular -- animal welfare -- as
well as to the sustainability of American Agriculture and to the
American Public in general.

USHRCoAg908

Resume

[Name]{.underline}: Spangler Klopp Nickname: Buzz

[Address]{.underline}: 10 Tanglewood Court, Lewes, Delaware, 19958

[Spouse:]{.underline} Theresa Nickname: Terri

[Children:]{.underline} David Klopp, Geoffrey Klopp, Elisabeth Kammerer,
Jamie Loving

> Grandchildren: Brandon James Klopp, Gabriel Ann Klopp, Griffin Scott
> Kammerer, Holden Wolf Kammerer, Sadie Elizabeth Loving, Darby Leigh
> Klopp, Riley Noel Klopp, Arron James Loving, Carson Hawk Kammerer

[Educational Background]{.underline}:

[Institution]{.underline} [Degree]{.underline} [Year]{.underline}

Sherwood High School, H.S. Diploma 1961

Sandy Spring, MD

Bullis Prep, Diploma 1962

Silver Spring, MD

University of Delaware B.S. Animal‑Poultry Science 1966

Newark, DE

University of Delaware M.S. Poultry Pathology 1968

Newark, DE

University of Georgia, Doctor of Veterinary

Athens, GA Medicine 1972

[Organization Memberships]{.underline}:

Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Kappa Alpha Order,
Alpha Zeta Honorary Agricultural Fraternity, Alpha Psi Professional
Veterinary Fraternity, American Veterinary Medical Association, Delaware
Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Avian
Pathologists, United States Animal Health Association, Licensed to
Practice Veterinary Medicine and Federally Accredited in Arkansas,
Delaware, Maryland and North Carolina

[Offices and Awards]{.underline}:

Recipient Robert E. Lee Memorial Scholarship of Kappa Alpha Order for
Senior Year in Veterinary College.

Secretary‑Treasurer Sophomore Class ‑ Veterinary College,

Correspondence Secretary Student Chapter AVMA ‑ Junior Year Veterinary
College

President Junior Class ‑ Veterinary College

Secretary‑Treasurer ‑ Delaware Veterinary Medical Association, 1972‑1975

Participant ‑ Closed Colloquium on Turkey Coryza ‑ Infectious Bursal
Disease, National Turkey Federation, Orlando, Florida, January 13, 1981.

American Association of Avian Pathologist Committees

1\. Drugs and Biologicals

2.  Food Safety

3.  Chairman Food Safety Symposium, AVMA Convention, July 2005

Co‑recipient Medal for Outstanding Achievement from Delmarva Poultry
Industry, Inc., Delmarva Poultry Booster Banquet, May 5, 1976.

Poultry Health Committee, Delmarva Poultry Industry, 1972‑1977,
1981‑Current.

Chairman, 1997-2000

Vice President Girls Softball, Georgetown, DE Little League, 1984-1985

President Sussex Central High School Field Hockey Boosters, 1985-1989

Research Advisory Committee, Delmarva Poultry Industry, 1993-2001

Board of Directors, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 1991‑2001

Executive Committee, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 1993‑2001

2nd Vice President, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 1994

1st Vice President, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 1995

President, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., 1996

Vestry Member, St. Peters Episcopal Church, Lewes, DE, 1994-1996

Senior Warden, St. Peters Episcopal Church, Lewes, DE, 1995-1996

Alternate Delegate to Delaware Episcopal Diocese Convention, 1999,2002

Delegate to Delaware Episcopal Diocese Convention, 1999-2001

President, Association of Veterinarians in Broiler Production, 1999

Chairman, Poultry Health Committee, National Chicken Council, 1998-99

Member, Center for Inland Bays Rehoboth Bay Tributary Team, 1997-1999

President, Briarwood Homeowners' Association, 2000

Steering Committee Member, Tri-State (DE, MD, VA) Poultry Health
Alliance

Advisory Board, ARS/Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, 1999-current

Adjunct Professor, Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine, College Park, MD, 2000-2002

Chairman AAAP Food Safety Committee, 2003-

George M. Worrilow Award of The University of Delaware College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences, for Outstanding Contribution to
Agriculture by a Graduate of the college, April, 2000.

Advisory Board, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of
Delaware, November 2003-2006

## Steering Committee National Animal Health Surveillance Program, March 2004-

[Employment Background]{.underline}

[Graduate Assistant:]{.underline} University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Applied and basic research in Poultry Pathology. 7/1/66-6/30/68.

[Poultry Pathologist:]{.underline} University of Delaware Agricultural
Research Substation, Georgetown, DE.

Diagnostic and applied research in avian diseases. Significant research
included work on Marek\'s disease, infectious bronchitis, inclusion body
hepatitis, gangrenous dermatitis, and infectious bursal disease.
Diagnostic activities involved extensive work in hatcheries, processing
plants and broiler houses as well as laboratory work in diagnosis,
treatment, and control of poultry diseases. 6/15/72-6/15/75.

[Coordinator of Poultry Research and Poultry Pathologist:]{.underline}
University of Delaware Agricultural Research Substation, Georgetown, DE.
Oversight and coordination of research studies and projects conducted in
diagnostic laboratory and 6 broiler research houses located on the
premesis. 6/15/74-6/15/75.

[Production Manager:]{.underline} Cargill,Inc., Frankford, DE.
Management of broilers (700,000 chickens/wk). 6/15/75-1/31/77.

[Staff Veterinarian:]{.underline} Cargill Turkey Operations, Springdale,
Arkansas. Veterinarian in charge of avian health involving turkeys
(14,000,000/yr), broilers (350,000/wk), meat breeders and commercial
layers (3.5 million). 2/1/77-6/30/81.

[Instructor:]{.underline} Delaware Technical and Community College,
Georgetown, DE. Poultry Health and Diseases (4 credit course). 1981 ‑
1994

[Director of Technical Services:]{.underline} Intervet Inc. Coordinator
of technical and field activities involving Intervet vaccines, technical
instruction of sales personnel, management of disease laboratory and
veterinary consultant to Animal Facilities. 6/30/81 to 4/15/91

[Director of Animal Services:]{.underline} Intervet Inc. Management of
animal care and usage for corporate research and quality control
programs. Interact with all departments regarding test protocols,
procedures and animal use. 4/15/91-- 4/15/94.

[Corporate Veterinarian:]{.underline} Townsends, Inc., Responsible for
poultry health in Delaware, North Carolina, and Arkansas complexes.
4/15/94 - Current

[Presentations]{.underline}:

Perspective of a Poultry Veterinarian on Avian Influenza, Woodrow Wilson
Center, Washington, DC, November 30, 2005

National Organic Plan Outdoor Access Requirement for Poultry as a
Deterrent to Control of Avian Influenza. USAHA, November 8, 2005.

Compartmentalization of Live Bird Market and Commercial Poultry
Programs: Definition of Commercial and Noncommercial Poultry. United
States Animal Health Association Meeting,

San Diego, CA, October 13, 2003

Industry Perspective on HIMP (HACCP Inspection Models Program) American
Agricultural Economics Association/Canadian Agricultural Economics
Society Annual Meeting, Chicago, ILL, August 6, 2001

Hughes Commission on Pfisteria Associated Fish Kills, Technical Aspects
of Disease and Disease Research: Chestertown, MD, October 2, 1997

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)/American Association of
Avian Pathologists (AAAP):

> Performance of four different Marek's disease vaccines in heavy
> broilers in North Carolina and Delmarva. Louisville, KY. July 1996.
>
> User's Perspective on Poultry Vaccines: AAAP Symposium on Poultry
> Vaccines, Nashville, TN, July 2002
>
> Raising Chickens without Antimicrobial Interventions, Nashville, TN,
> July 2002

[National Meeting on Poultry Health and Processing]{.underline},
Delmar/Ocean City, MD

> 1\. Incidence of Inclusion Body Hepatitis in broiler chickens on the
> Delmarva Peninsula, October 1973.
>
> 2\. Control of Anemia and Dermatitis in Broilers, October 1975.
>
> 3\. Vaccination Program in Layers and Breeders, October 1985.
>
> 4\. Control of Reovirus Disease in Broilers, October 1987.
>
> 5\. Role of Vaccines in Immunity, October 1989.

6.  Field Perspective on Respiratory Disease in Delmarva Broilers,
    October 16, 1997

7.  An Industry Perspective on The HACCP Inspection Models Program
    (HIMP), October 19-20, 2000

[Delaware Nutrition Conference, Georgetown, DE]{.underline}

> Differential Diagnosis of Leg Weakness in Broilers, November 1973.

[North East Conference on Avian Disease]{.underline}

> 1\. Transmission of Marek\'s Disease Virus by Oocysts of
> [Eimeria]{.underline} [acervulina]{.underline}, Storrs, Conn., June
> 1968.
>
> 2\. Control of Reovirus in Broilers, Newark, DE, June 1987.

[American Cyanamid Conference of Poultry Pathologist, St. Louis,
MO]{.underline}

> Studies on Aplastic Anemia of Broilers, November 1974.

# 

# 

# 

# 

# North Carolina Poultry Service Conference, Raleigh, NC

> 1\. Studies on Infectious Bursal Disease and Gangrenous Dermatitis,
> March 1975.

2\. Proper Use of the Diagnostic Laboratory, March 1982.

[North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, Raleigh, NC]{.underline}

> 1\. Field Perspective on Respiratory Disease in North Carolina
> Broilers, November 14, 1997.
>
> 2\. Field Research on Respiratory Disease in North Carolina Broilers,
> October 30, 1998

[Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, Savannah, GA]{.underline}

> The Role of Infectious Bursal Agent and Inclusion Body Hepatitis Virus
> in the Anemia‑Hemorrhagic Syndrome, June 1975.

[Southeastern Poultry Health Symposium, Atlanta, GA]{.underline}

> 1\. Interaction of Infectious Bursal Disease and Inclusion Body
> Hepatitis in the Aplastic Anemia Gangrenous Dermatitis Syndrome,
> September 1975.

2\. Control of infectious bronchitis in broilers, September, 1995

[Delaware Annual Conference on]{.underline} [Agriculture, Dover,
DE]{.underline}

> Feeding Programs to Reduce Excretion of Phosphorous from Broilers,
> January 24, 1999

[Delmarva Broiler Supervisors Short Conference, Ocean City,
MD]{.underline}

1\. Role of Anatomy in the Immune System, September 1985.

2.  Proper Medication of Broilers, September 1987

[Pennsylvania Sales and Service Conference, State College,
PA]{.underline}

> 1\. Vaccination Programs for Layers, October 1983.
>
> 2\. Control of Respiratory Diseases in Broilers, October 1983.

# MidAtlantic Poultry Health Conference, Lancaster, PA,

> Laryngotracheitis-Control, Diagnosis and Export Issues, September,15,
> 1999

[Lancaster Poultry Days, Lancaster PA]{.underline}

New Developments in Vaccines, March 1984.

[New England Poultry Health Symposium, Manchester, New
Hampshire]{.underline}

Control of Newcastle and Bronchitis in Layers, 1987.

[Maine Poultry Conference, Portland, Maine]{.underline}

Spray Vaccination of Poultry, February 1984.

[Mississippi Poultry Symposium, Jackson, MS]{.underline}

1\. Control of Infectious Bursal Disease, May 1982.

2\. Reovirus Diseases in Broilers, May 1984.

> 3\. Role of the Breeders in Early Chick Morbidity and Respiratory
> Disease of Broilers, May 1987.
>
> 4\. New Developments on Infectious Bursal Disease, May 1987.

[Arkansas Poultry Symposium, Fayetteville, AR]{.underline}

> 1\. Control of Infectious Bursal Disease in Broilers, April 1977.

2\. Control of Newcastle Bronchitis in Layers, April 1987.

3\. Vaccination Program for Layers, April 1987.

[Oregon Poultry Workshop, Portland, OR]{.underline}

Proper Vaccination of Poultry, February 1984.

[Wisconsin Poultry Days, Wisconsin Dels, Wisc]{.underline}

Control of Infectious Bursal Disease, March 1985

[Florida Poultry Days, Gainesville, FLA]{.underline}

Control of Infectious Bursal Disease, May 1976.

[Virginia Poultry Health Symposium, Roanoke, VA]{.underline}

1\. Role of Anatomy in the Immune System, April 1986.

2\. Vaccination for Control of Diseases, April 1986.

> 3\. Role of the Breeders in Respiratory Diseases, April 1990.
>
> 4\. New Developments in Infectious Bursal Diseases, April 1990.

[North Carolina Breeder Meeting, Statesville, NC]{.underline}

Role of Anatomy in the Immune System, November 1986.

[Spanish Branch, World Poultry Association, Barcelona,
Spain]{.underline}

> Role of Infectious Bursal Disease and Inclusion Body Hepatitis in the
> Hemorrhagic Aplastic Anemia Syndrome, November 1977.

[Delaware Breeder Hatchery Symposium, Delmar, MD]{.underline}

> 1\. Proper Handling and Administration of Vaccines,

February 1991.

> 2\. Vaccination Site Reaction Due to Injection with Inactivated Virus
> Vaccines, March, 1994
>
> 3\. Future of Broiler Breeder Production on Delmarva. March, 1996.

[Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Extension Meeting, Newark, De]{.underline}

> 1\. Current Status and Future of The Tristate Poultry Health
> Initiative, December 1998
>
> 2\. Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in The Broiler Industry, December
> 1998

[Publications:]{.underline}

> 1\. Rosenberger, J.K., R.J. Eckroade, S. Klopp & W.C. Krauss.
> Characterization of several viruses isolated from chickens with
> inclusion body hepatitis and aplastic anemia. Avian Diseases 18:
> 399‑409. 1974.
>
> 2\. Klopp, S., J.K. Rosenberger & W.C. Krauss. Incidence of inclusion
> body hepatitis in Delmarva broiler chickens. Avian Diseases 18:
> 722‑726. 1974.
>
> 3\. Rosenberger, J.K., S. Klopp, R.J. Eckroade & W.C. Krauss. Role of
> Infectious Bursal Agent and Several Avian Adenoviruses in the
> Hemorrhagic‑Aplastic Anemia and Gangrenous Dermatitis. Avian Diseases
> 19: 717‑729. 1975.
>
> 4\. Skeeles, J.K., J.N. Beasley, Pamela Blore & S. Klopp. Severe Egg
> Production Drops in Turkey Breeders in South Central Missouri. Avian
> Diseases, 1984.
>
> 5\. Beasley, J.N. & S. Klopp, Lesion in the Reproductive Tract of
> Turkey Breeder Hens, Avian Diseases, 1986.
>
> 6\. Klopp, S. Breeder Reovirus Vaccination Program Influence on
> Broiler Performance. Poultry Digest, June 1987.
>
> 7\. Klopp, S. Proper Handling of Vaccines. Poultry Digest, March 1988.

8.  Klopp, S. Care and Management of Poultry in The Laboratory. Poultry
    Avian Biology Review, Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 1999.

> 9\. Jenkins, M.C., K. Miska, and S. Klopp, Application of Polymerase
> Chain Reaction on ITS1 rDNA to Speciate Eimeria. Avian Diseases,Vol
> 50, No 1, March 2006
>
> **Committee on Agriculture\
> U.S.** **House of Representatives\
> Required Witness Disclosure Form**
>
> **House Rules\* require nongovernmental witnesses to disclose the
> amount and source of Federal grants received since October** 1, 2004.

**Name: Spangler Klopp**

**Address: Townsends, Inc., 22855 Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE, 19947**

**Telephone: 302-855-7108**

**Organization you represent** (if any**): National Chicken Council**

**1. Please list any federal grants or contracts (including subgrants
and subcontracts)\
you have received since October 1, 2004, as well as the source and the
amount of each grant or contract. House Rules do NOT require disclosure
of federal payments to individuals, such as Social Security or Medicare
benefits, farm program payments, or assistance to agricultural
producers:**

**Source: Amount:**

**Source: Amount:**

2\. **If you are appearing on behalf of an organization, please list any
federal grants or\
contracts (including subgrants and subcontracts) [the
organization]{.underline} has received since October 1, 2004, as well as
the source and the amount of each grant or contract:**

**Source: Amount:**

**Source: Amount:**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.373611111111111in"
height="1.0833333333333333in"}**Please check here if this form is NOT
applicable to you: NONE**

**Signature:**

\* Rule XI, clause 2(g)(4) of the U.S. House of Representatives
provides: *Each committee shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
require witnesses who appear before it to submit in advance written
statements of proposed testimony and to limit their initial
presentations to the committee to brief summaries thereof. In the case
of a witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity, a written
statement of proposed testimony shall include a curriculum vitae and a
disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program) of each
Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof)
received during the current fiscal year or either of the two previous
fiscal years by the witness or by any entity represented by the
witness,*