Research -- Department of Poultry Science -- Auburn University

Our Mission

Those of us who work at the poultry science department at Auburn University are constantly trying to provide employees, service and answers to poultry industries statewide, regionally and nationally. Many in the industry are aware that we try to supply as many trained poultry science students as we can to fill jobs in the poultry sector, however, fewer of our clientele are aware of all the programs and research that we are involved in. This short summary is an attempt to update you on our various research and extension programs that are focused on meeting critical industry needs.

Practical and Applied

As one of only six remaining poultry science departments in the United States, we aim our programs at the commercial poultry industry, poultry growers, backyard/specialty flock owners and the (poultry) consuming public. The majority of these efforts are aimed at commercial poultry in one form or another. We continually strive to ensure that a significant portion of our efforts, while based on solid sciences, have a practical outcome that the industry can utilize the short term.

Live Production

   Live production continues to be the cornerstone for all of our program emphasis. Drs. Moran and Roland have continued research into nutritional programs for broilers and commercial egg layers, respectively, with the objective of determining optimal programs relevant to the industry's desired outcome (e.g. yield, performance, cost, etc.) and production and processing conditions. Several groups within the department have investigated the effects of broiler lighting programs on growth, yield and mortality. Dr. Lien is looking at the effects of mandated European and common United States lighting programs and intensity on broiler performance. Drs. Bilgili and Hess have determined the effect of a range of lighting programs on performance and yield of various broiler strain crosses under a wide range of environmental conditions.
    Other nutritional trials have examined the influence of non-antibiotic growth promoters on live performance and processing yield (Dr. Blake). Complexed organic trace minerals have also been studied to improve health, yield and paw quality (Drs. Hess and Bilgili).
   The trace mineral work is part of a larger project to identify factors influencing paw quality in the field (Dr. Bilgili). Nutrition, litter types and litter amendments are being looked at in this regard.
   Dr. Berry is initiating further studies on the feasibility of accelerated broiler breeder male rearing. Other recent practical trials completed within the poultry science department have compared insecticides for field control of litter beetles and have examined the toxicity of a cultivar of crotalaria (weed seeds) for broilers.

Waste Management

Waste management and environmental stewardship remain an important area of emphasis for poultry growers and integrated companies, and efforts in the poultry science department reflect the importance of this topic. In recent years, research by Dr. Macklin and others had led to effective in-house windrow composting tecniques that also have been successfully transferred into industry practice. Building on this work, additional trials examining the ability to kill LT virus with windrow composting have been carried out (Drs. Macklin and Giambrone.) To minimize the risk of disease transmission during litter transport, related trials on control of microbes in poultry house air and during litter transport have been completed (Dr. Norton).
Research by Dr. Blake has examined the use of litter techniques to control ammonia and bacteria. Related on-going research is generating solid data to help ensure that any air quality regulations for poultry are based on sound science. In addition, Drs. Bilgili, Blake and Hess have been involved in examining new litter sources as supplies of both pine shavings and peanut hulls become tight. Dr. Blake has also looked at the nutritional usage of byproducts from ethanol production that uses broiler litter as a heat source.

Poultry Health

Effective poultry health programs are essential to profitable poultry production and processing. Drs. Macklin and Eckman (retired) continue developing practical programs to control coccidiosis. These efforts have included working directly with broiler companies on cocci programs and testing the efficiency of cocci programs in the lab. Portions of the windrow composting and microbial control work must be mentioned in this section as they relate directly to bird health as well as being important from the waste management perspective. Additional health research has led to a better understanding and control of gangreous dermatitis, necrotic enteritis and IP (Drs. Norton and Macklin).
Dr. Ewald is utilizing commercial broiler strains to identify genetic resistance to avian influenza. Her work could lead to an effective alternative, genetic resistance, for control of AI in common poultry. Dr. Giambrone's recent research has aided in identifying the causes of infectious proventriculitis. He is also involved in a regional AI surveillance program for wild fowl.

Food Safety and Quality

   Given that poultry processors must meet USDA-mandated food safety and quality performance standards, extensive departmental efforts are directed to this area. Recent efforts have centered on control of Salmonella and Campylobacter - both in the field and in the processing plant. Water treatments to control Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler houses have been investigated by Drs. Bilgili and Oyarzabal. Dr. Oyarzabal's research is also directed at developing better methods for detection and identification of foodborne pathogens.
   Dr. Curtis' research is helping processors identify Salmonella control points and meet their Salmonella performance standards. Her work is also helping processors successfully respond to USDA compliance actions. Drs. Conner, McKee and Oyarzabal are also researching measures to better control Listeria in RTE poultry products.
   In terms of quality issues, Drs. Bilgili and Moran are investigating field and plant causes of carcass and meat defects such as blood-splash and green muscle disease. Impacts of catching, livehaul are among the causes that have been investigated.

For More Information

Auburn University supports many more projects and programs aimed at supplying information to poultry growers and the poultry industry. Those discussed in this article are only selected topics from the poultry science department. For further information or contacts regarding this information, contact Don Conner, poultry science department head at 334-844-2639 or by e-mail at connde@auburn.edu.