Year Department formed: 1929

First persons assigned to poultry:
   •The first course in poultry husbandry was taught in the Animal Industry Department in 1912.
   •In 1920, Professor W. H. Eaton taught poultry husbandry course as Animal Husbandry 404.
   •In 1920, poultry husbandry courses were moved into Home Economics, as chicken husbandry fell to the females of the family.
   •In 1921, first Extension poultry specialist, Gladys Tappon was hired.
   •In 1924, the Poultry Program became part of the Animal Industry Department, and Mr. John Ivey was hired to lead the program.

Major Changes in Department name:
   •From 1899-1960, Auburn University was named Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Poultry Husbandry Department was established as separate department in 1929, and G. A. Trollope was assigned as head.
  •In 1934, the Department was re-incorporated as part of Animal Husbandry Department.
   •Dr. Dale F. King was appointed to lead the poultry husbandry program.
   •In 1947, Poultry Husbandry Department re-established as separate department, and Dr. King was named Department Head.
   •The university officially re-named Auburn University.
   •Dr. Claude Moore named Department Head in 1960.
   •The name Department of Poultry Science adopted in 1961.
   •Dr. Robert N. Brewer named Department Head in 1987.
   •Dr. Donald Conner named Department Head in 2001.
   •Poultry Science Department moves into new Poultry Science Building in 2005.






Selected Significant Events & Discoveries:
   •1924 National egg-laying contests established.
   •1929 Annual Meeting of Poultry Science Association held in Auburn. Mr. John Ivey elected PSA president.
   •1934 The “Auburn Strain” of single comb white leghorn developed.







   •1934 Force molting and all-night lighting program for layers developed.
   •1935 Sack-Cement house developed for growing chickens in the deep south.
   •1937 Fer-Tel-Egg machine developed and patented by Dr. D.F. King. It was marketed by Bundy Incubator Company.









   •1944 Poultry Handbook for Southern States published by Dr. D.F. King.
   •1948 First Poultry Science Master of Science degrees awarded.












   •1952 Coccidia vaccine developed by Dr. S.A. Edgar. (This ranks among the top discoveries because it allowed commercial poultry production to advance and principles discovered and developed by Dr. Edgar remain an industry standard today. Therefore, more information can be provided if desired.)
   •1958 Stimulight program developed and announced by Dr. D.F. King.
   •1961 Fowl cholera control developed by Dr. E. C. Mora
First Poultry Science Ph.D. degree awarded.
   •1962 Infectious Bursal Disease and Fowl Pox vaccines developed
   •1964 Major Histocompatability Complex blood grouping developed for broilers.
   •1973 Automatic poultry beak trimmer invented.
   •1974 Artificial insemination for broiler breeders developed by Dr. G.R. McDaniel.
   •1976 First phase of new Poultry Science Research Farm completed.
   •1977 Auburn Hosts Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association.
   •1980 Dietary effects on egg quality defined.
   •1984 Energy management and use of solar power for broiler housing.
   •1985 Second phase of New Poultry Science Research Farm completed.
   •1985 Vaccines and molecular diagnostic techniques developed for avian reoviruses.


   •1986 Separate feeding of broiler breeders developed by Dr. G.R. McDaniel.
   •1989 New X-ray imaging technique for diagnosing tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers and breeders developed.
   •1990 Effects of dietary amino acids on carcass quality and yield determined.
Efficacy of infectious bursal disease vaccines determined.
   •1994 Skin attachment model for Salmonella developed.
   •1996 Mortality composting methods refined.
   •1997 First funding for new Poultry Science Building secured.
Poultry Health course released on CD-Rom for first time.
   •1998 Poultry Products Safety & Quality Program established as an Auburn University Peak of Excellence.
   •1999 Causes of and control of avian cellulitis defined.
   •2002 Groundbreaking held for new Poultry Science Building.



   •2005 Department of Poultry Science moves into the new Poultry Science Building.
   •2005Auburn University host Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association.
   •2006 “Virtual Chicken” released.
   •2006Effects of lighting on broiler carcass yield defined.
   •2007 Improved methods for recovery of Campylobacter from poultry products developed.
   •2007 Windrow composting procedures that result in better control of Infectious Laryngotracheitis virus in poultry litter developed.
   •2007 National Poultry Technology Center established.
   •2008 National Egg Product Center established (anticipated).

Auburn University PSA Presidents (Photos available if needed.)
   •2007 Mr. John Ivey 1929-1930
   •2007 Dr. Claude Moore 1980-1981
   •2007 Dr. James E. Marion 1985-1986
   •2007 Dr. Edwin T. Moran 1999-2000
   •2007 Dr. S. F. Bilgili 2005-2006

For more questions about this web information, contact:

Dr. Donald E. Conner, Professor & Head
Auburn University
Department of Poultry Science
201 Poultry Science Building
Auburn, AL 26849-5416
Phone:  (334) 844-2639   Fax:  (334) 844-2641
Email: connede@auburn.edu