When the turkeys, who received the official presidential pardon at the White House before Thanksgiving, arrived at Purdue University this week to settle in their new home after the pardon, they thanked the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) for being able to safely go to the pardon ceremony. The two turkeys named Peanut Butter and Jelly took a group photo at the Purdue University Memorial Mall in front of Boilermaker Special on Monday (November 29).

Purdue University's Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Purdue University, provided home and care for Thanksgiving turkeys after the National Thanksgiving Turkey speech at the White House. The turkeys will live in Purdue University’s Animal Science Research and Education Center, where they will live in a separate enclosed indoor environment with access to shady grassland.

There is another Purdue perspective in this story directly related to the School of Veterinary Medicine. “ADDL performed the necessary tests for the President’s turkey travel abroad,” said Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, Director of ADDL and Clinical Associate Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic Microbiology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology. The turkeys were raised under the supervision of Phil Seger, the president of the National Turkey Federation in 2021, and Andrea Welp, a southern Indiana turkey producer, in cooperation with Farbest Farms.

"We are very happy to be the diagnostic laboratory for President Turkey in 2021," said Dr. Craig Bowen, Assistant Director of ADDL. "ADDL plays a vital role in protecting the health and safety of the important poultry industry in Indiana, so we have been testing to support poultry producers such as Farbest Farms." 

Dr. Geoffrey Lossie, ADDL’s avian diagnostician and clinical assistant professor of pathology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, said the tests performed include avian influenza PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and tests for Newcastle disease, which is an infectious virus that affects avian influenza. sick. Respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. "We are honored to be able to perform these important tests for these special Thanksgiving birds and provide them with the health certificates needed to obtain the presidential pardon," Dr. Losi said.

Indiana is the fourth largest turkey-producing state in the country, ranking first in duck production and second in egg production. The poultry industry contributes more than $12 billion to Indiana's total economic activity and employs more than 12,000 people.

“Given the prominence of Indiana’s poultry industry, I think it’s great that Purdue University and the National Thanksgiving Turkey Show held at the White House are close,” said Dr. Hendricks. "Purdue's involvement in this tradition highlights the importance of our testing to ensure the health and safety of Indiana poultry producers' chicken flocks."

Purdue Agriculture’s Department of Animal Science includes a nationally recognized poultry program with experts in nutrition, health, education, behavioral neuroendocrinology, management, behavior, and animal welfare. "Although turkey is an important cultural tradition in the United States, most people know very little about turkey production and management, so this is a great opportunity for us to increase our awareness and understanding of turkey behavior, personality and welfare," Mary Dr. Sha said Erasmus, Assistant Professor of Animal Science. Another focus will be on educating students for more in-depth poultry care. Dr. Erasmus said: "We will emphasize them in some of our teaching plans and when we hold events (such as the annual spring festival)."

In the welcome home event of the two broad-breasted white turkeys pardoned by the president, students, faculty and staff of Purdue University were happy to take photos with the university’s latest resident celebrities.

Writer(s): Jillian Ellison, Purdue University College of Agriculture, and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

By using our website, you agree to our privacy policy.

Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (765) 494-7607

© 2021 Purdue University | An Equal Opportunity/Equal Opportunity University | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by PVM Web Communications

If you cannot access this page due to a disability, please contact PVM Web Communications at vetwebteam@purdue.edu.