John P. Blake is a native of Southwestern Pennsylvania and attended primary and secondary schools in Vandergrift, PA. Prior to accepting his present position, he was a Technical Service Nutritionist with Dawes Laboratories and a Poultry Specialist in the Research and Development Department at Oscar Mayer Foods, Inc. in Madison, WI. As an Extension Poultry Scientist in Management and Nutrition, his program has focused on environmental issues for the poultry industry. In cooperation with other extension specialists they have developed a comprehensive program to assist the poultry producer regarding the utilization of farm-generated poultry byproducts. Dr. Blake has actively published articles in refereed journals, commodity magazines and trade journals, extension circulars and proceedings. He has given numerous presentations in 18 states and 10 foreign countries. Recognitions include: a Fulbright Lecturing Scholarship at the Volgograd State Agricultural Academy in Volgograd, Russia; a Distinguished Service Award from Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and the Teamwork in Excellence Award by Epsilon Sigma Phi for teamwork efforts in the Poultry By-Product Management Water Quality Project. Also, as a member of Auburn University's Waste Management Team, the team's efforts were recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency and awarded a USEPA Environmental Merit Award.

EDUCATION:

1986 - Ph.D., Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
1982 - M.S., Animal Science, University of Maine
1979 - B.S., Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University Honorary Degree
1998--Volgograd State Agricultural Academy, Volgograd, Russia

RESEARCH:

Research priorities parallel and complement an extension program in Poultry Waste Management: Nutrient and By-product Management. Research objectives include: 1) development and evaluation of new technologies to accommodate the environmentally safe disposal of farm-generated poultry byproducts; 2) develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of poultry byproducts in agricultural production systems; and 3) evaluation of byproducts as a nutritional source for animal feeds. A multi-disciplinary approach to research has focused on the immediate needs of the poultry industry. Published research has dealt with methods that will promote the environmentally safe disposal of poultry farm-generated wastes. Additional interests have included nutrition-related research with broilers, game birds, and ratites.

TEACHING / INSTRUCTION:

POUL 4100 - Supervised Investigation in Waste Mgmt., Nutrition or Game Birds
POUL 5050 - Poultry Feeding
POUL 6050 - Advanced Poultry Feeding
POUL 7100 - Supervised Investigation in Waste Mgmt., Nutrition or Game Birds
POUL 8970 - Special Problems / Management

EXTENSION / OUTREACH:

Major emphasis areas include:
1. improve management and use of animal waste in agricultural production systems in       environmentally sound ways;
2. increase use of contemporary, spatial and emerging technology in       production/management schemes;
3. develop collaborative efforts with industry and community leaders to assess and
       recommend strategies to solve current and future environmental problems; and
4. to promote profitable and sustainable animal production systems.

Fully aware that effective waste management practices eventually would become mandatory for poultry producers, extension scientists have played a key role helping producers become more effective environmental stewards. Within the past few years, a major focus as part of a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary effort has been to assist growers in complying with new state regulations relating to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). As a result, Alabama's waste management educational programs are recognized as a national model and have been adopted by other states facing many of the same environmental challenges. In addition, backyard flock, game bird, and ratite producers are provided assistance in the areas of nutrition, management, and disease control.

SELECTED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:

Blake, J.P. and P.H. Patterson (editors), 2000. Proceedings 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium. National Poultry Waste Management Symposium Committee, Auburn University, AL. 420 pp.

Blake, J.P., 2000. Managing and reprocessing of poultry by-products. In: Proceedings XI National Veterinary Medicine Congress, pp. 103-109. XI National Veterinary Medicine Congress, Santiago, Chile.

Biligili, S.F., J.B. Hess, M.K. Eckman and J.P. Blake, 2000. Potential opportunities with a sand based litter. In: Proceedings 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, pp. 102-110. National Poultry Waste Management Symposium Committee, Auburn University, AL.

Hess, J.B., R.A. Norton and J.P. Blake, 2000. Dehydrated poultry meal produced from farm mortalities. In: Proceedings 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, pp. 246-251. National Poultry Waste Management Symposium Committee, Auburn University, AL.

Blake, J.P., 2000. Perspectives on Poultry Waste Management. In: 2000 Proceedings for the Mississippi Water Resources Conference, pp. 43-50. Mississippi Water Resources Conference, Raymond, MS.

Blake, J.P., R.M. Roden, J.T. Scott and D.E. Conner, 2000. Fermentation as a method for carcass disposal. In: Proceedings of the 49th Western Poultry Disease Conference, pp. 71-75. Western Poultry Disease Conference, Sacramento, CA.

Blake, J.P., 2000. Hatchery by-product disposal. Current Concepts in Broiler Production. Winter 2000. pp. 2-3.

Blake, J.P. and J.B. Hess, 2000. Evaluating water quality for poultry. ANR-1201. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, AL. 4 pp.

Blake, J.P. and J.B. Hess, 2000. Litter treatments for poultry. ANR-1199. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University, AL. 4 pp.

Blake, J.P., 2000. Proper management can reduce effect on environment. Poultry Times 47(15): 16-17.