The University of Arkansas has received a $100,000 research grant to advance a novel approach to poultry vaccination: electron beam (e-beam) inactivated vaccines. The funding, provided through a new program by Innovate Animal Ag, will support ongoing work in the laboratory of Dr. Adnan Alrubaye, which has already shown encouraging results in tackling bacterial challenges in broilers.
From antibiotics to new vaccine technologies
For decades, antibiotics were the mainstay of poultry health management. However, following U.S. FDA restrictions introduced in 2012 to curb antimicrobial resistance, poultry farms have seen a significant reduction in antibiotic usage. While beneficial from a public health perspective, this shift has coincided with higher mortality rates in broiler production, rising from 3.7% to nearly 6% over the past decade.
This trend has underscored the need for alternative disease prevention strategies. Vaccination is an attractive option, but traditional chemical inactivation methods often reduce vaccine effectiveness. By contrast, e-beam technology uses targeted energy to destroy bacterial DNA while preserving surface proteins. This allows the bird’s immune system to mount a precise response against the pathogen.
Early results in combating lameness
Dr. Alrubaye’s team has already demonstrated the potential of e-beam vaccines in controlling Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness, a major cause of economic loss in broiler production. In controlled trials, an e-beam inactivated Staphylococcus vaccine reduced BCO incidence by 50%, marking a significant step forward in non-antibiotic disease management.
Next steps: towards commercial validation
While results are still preliminary, the implications are substantial. E-beam vaccines could be developed against a wider range of bacterial pathogens, supporting the poultry industry’s transition to “no antibiotics ever” (NAE) production systems. The next phase of research will involve large-scale commercial trials, assessing impacts on key performance metrics such as feed conversion ratio and growth rates.
Implications for the poultry sector
If validated at scale, e-beam vaccination could become a cornerstone in future poultry health programs—helping producers reduce reliance on antibiotics, improve bird welfare, and address consumer demand for sustainable production practices.
For more information about IAA’s technology grant program, including how to apply for future grants, please visit innovateanimalag.org/grants.
