Kidd named head of poultry science department

Transcription

1 Fall 2007 Volume 1 Issue 3 Kidd named head of poultry science department MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Michael T. Kidd has assumed duties as head of Mississippi State University s Department of Poultry Science. Kidd, whose experience includes both university and industry research, succeeds Wallace Morgan, who retired in June. We are fortunate to have a person with his academic and indus- Poultry is an important part of the Mississippi economy, and Dr. Kidd has a proven record of teaching and research in support of the industry. Vance Watson Vice President, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine try experience, said Vance Watson, vice president of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. Poultry is an important part of the Mississippi economy, and Dr. Kidd has a proven record of teaching and research in support of the industry. An Arkansas native, Kidd earned his bachelor s and master s degrees at the University of Arkansas in poultry science. His doctorate is from North Carolina State University, with a major concentration in nutrition and a minor in immunology. Kidd has been a member of the MSU poultry science faculty since His industry experience includes five years as research manager and research director with Nutri -Quest, Inc. In 2001, Kidd developed and led a conference on nutrition research that has become an annual event for key poultry industry personnel in Mississippi. He also has been active in curriculum development. As a commodity department, we exist for our students and to assist a highly competitive and profitable poultry industry in our state. We focus on educating and training our students to become future leaders in the poultry industry, Kidd said. At MSU they have opportunities to participate in research to both support and improve the industry. Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated.

2 Page 2 Dr. James Paul Thaxton, Jr. passed away in his home in Starkville on Wednesday, October 17, Dr. Thaxton has been a professor in the Poultry Science Department at Mississippi State University for the last 17 years. Dr. Thaxton grew up in Starkville and attended public schools where he excelled in sports. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in high school. Upon graduation from high school, he was the first student from Starkville to go to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. He later graduated from MSU where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He also earned a master s degree at MSU, followed by a doctorate in animal physiology from the University of Georgia. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Thaxton joined the faculty at North Carolina State University where he quickly earned the rank of professor and head of the physiology graduate program. He was also awarded the Poultry Science Association Research Award. After leaving NCSU, Dr. Thaxton co-founded Embrex, Inc., the first biotechnology company devoted to products for the poultry industry. While at Embrex, he was the author of seven patents and received the Governor of North Carolina s Award of Entrepreneurial Excellence. After he felt his role at Embrex had been completed, he returned home to Starkville and joined the faculty of the Poultry Science Department at MSU. Poultry Science Remembering an esteemed professor, Dr. J. Paul Thaxton In his years at MSU, Dr. Thaxton earned the University Alumni Association s Research Award and was elected a Fellow in the Poultry Science Association, the highest honor awarded to poultry scientists. He was also elected to the animal welfare advisory boards of the American Humane Society, Kentucky Fried Chicken (YUM, Foods, Inc.) and the Federated Animal Science Societies as a result of his work in physiology of animal welfare. He is also known worldwide for his expertise in stress in birds. He trained hundreds of students including 24 graduate students and four postdoctoral fellows. He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville, the Knights of Columbus and the Equestrian order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, and a life member of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson where he set up a trust for elementary school education for minority students. Dr. Thaxton was a tremendous mentor and friend to the students and faculty of MSU, and a valued scientist to the poultry industry around the world. His contributions to the study of poultry physiology and production will be remembered for a very long time to come. Memorial donations can be made to the St. Joseph Foundation of the Catholic Foundation of Diocese of Mississippi or to the Mississippi State University Department of Poultry Science. Morgan inducted into poultry association hall of fame Dr. G. Wallace Morgan, retired professor and head of the Poultry Science Department, was inducted into the Mississippi Poultry Hall of Fame during the annual Mississippi Poultry Association Convention held September 20-22, 2007 in Destin, Florida. This prestigious award has been bestowed upon only two faculty members prior to Dr. Morgan. Congratulations to Dr. Morgan on his induction! Pictured, left to right, are Mike Pepper, MPA President; Ryn McDonald, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.; Dr. Morgan; and Wally Taylor, MPA Chairman.

3 Poultry Science Page 3 Optimizing the performance of early nutrient restricted offspring from young broiler breeders By David Peebles, PhD Professor, Poultry Science T he poor quality and excessive mortality of chicks during the first 7 days of brooding are frequently associated with smaller chicks from smaller eggs (inherent to flocks of young breeder hens 30 weeks of age or younger) that have been subjected to an improper hatching process, delayed brooding, or poor brooding management. The loss of body fat, muscular regression, and kidney damage in these chicks parallels increases in early embryo mortality between days 1 and 12 of incubation. Internal body temperature and plasma refractive index are physiological parameters that are indicative of the metabolic and growth rates of embryos and chicks. These parameters are important marker parameters, because when they are abnormal, they will signal the poultry producer to the possibility of a subsequent increase in mortality. When elevated, plasma refractive index is indicative of dehydration, while a low internal body temperature reflects a depressed metabolism. These two specific parameters have been shown in earlier studies to have potential value for the prediction of later performance. However, the agedependent relationships among these and other marker parameters in embryos and chicks, from breeder flocks at 30 weeks of age or younger, are largely unknown. Understanding the association and predicting the onset of changes in these parameters would allow hatchery and grower personnel to make appropriate adjustments in their management to accommodate the negative impacts of earlier environmental influences and to optimize performance. In addition, no previous work has addressed the influence of prolonged delays in brooding and the impact of its duration on the relationship of these parameters to the health, viability, and welfare of chicks. These relationships are a major concern of primary breeders, particularly those that transport chicks internationally. Industry personnel must be knowledgeable of established parameters that are essential in defining the well-being (hydration and energy status) of their chicks when confronted with welfare issues. A hatching egg is injected using laboratory-scale injector equipment. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the relationships among these metabolic and growth-related parameters across incubation and brooding, and to know their critical levels and physiological and molecular bases. More specifically, we further seek to establish the time-dependent changes and relationships between various physiological and molecular parameters in broiler embryos (during the last week of incubation) and in chicks (through 72 hours post-hatch) from very young hens before, during, and after prolonged delays in brooding. In addition to body temperature, plasma refractive index, and other blood and visceral parameters, incubation temperature, egg temperature, incubational egg water loss, eggshell conductance, bird sex, time of hatch, hatchability, and embryo and chick growth and mortality are also under consideration. Trials are underway to establish the repeatability of the results in industry settings and to provide procedures by which to test for the various metabolic indices in both incubating embryos and chicks for practical application. Other research in our laboratory has extended into the determination of the effects of the commercial egg injection of various nutrients at transfer on the viability (see Broiler breeders page 4)

4 Page 4 Poultry Science Research focuses on proper vaccine administration techniques Broiler breeders (continued from page 3) of the embryo and chick, and their effects on the various physiological factors described above. These materials would be injected in conjunction with the normal injection of the Marek s vaccine. The US Broiler Industry produces 8 billion or more broilers per year. Therefore, understanding and alleviating early chick mortality by as little as 0.25 % could result in a realized annual savings of over $5 million in chick costs to the industry. Much greater benefits in subsequent broiler performance, however, may be realized. Therefore, such measures as described in our research could significantly increase profits to the commercial broiler industry that exceed $20 million per year. N umerous methods are currently utilized throughout the poultry industry for the administration of vaccines. Vaccine delivery to birds in commercial poultry houses occurs via three predominant methods: drinking water, eye drop or spray. Spray administration often results in non-uniform application and inconsistent response by the birds immune systems, however, it is desirable for both ease and cost of application. Spray vaccination is the preferred method for inoculating the respiratory system of poultry, but non-uniform and inconsistent vaccine administration can result in a rolling reaction within a flock which in turn can result in longer recovery with the overall impact of decreased flock performance. Within the commercial table egg sector of the poultry industry, spray application is considered to be the most effective delivery system for the administration of most Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) vaccines, and has become increasingly popular for the administration of Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus vaccines. Vaccine delivery systems significantly influence the outcome of vaccination. While improper vaccine administration is the most common reason for vaccine and vaccination program failure, procedures for the reconstitution/dilution of vaccines for dispersal can also be an important factor in vaccine effectiveness. Essentially, all poultry vaccines, whether administered via drinking water, eye drop or spray, utilize water as both the means of vaccine reconstitution and as the delivery medium. Water characteristics such as ph, tonicity/osmolarity (mineral content), temperature and source (well, municipal or distilled) may impact vaccine effectiveness. Other important factors to consider are spray nozzles, nozzle spray pattern, delivery pressure, the possibility of vaccine suspension/stratification in the vaccinator reservoir and the time from vaccine reconstitution/ dilution to final vaccine dispersal to the chicken. Several recent research projects at the USDA-ARS Poultry Research Unit at Mississippi State have been conducted to study many of these factors affecting vaccine administration in commercial poultry operations. One such experiment focused on the relationship between live MG vaccine viability and the factors of water temperature and time. Experiments were conducted with 3 commercially available MG vaccines: F strain, 6/85 strain and ts-11 strain. All 3 vaccines were reconstituted in distilled water at 3 temperatures (39, 72 and 90 F). Survival of the live MG vaccines was assessed after initial reconstitution (0 minutes) and at 15, 30 and 60 minutes post reconstitution. Results indicated that the 6/85 strain MG vaccine remained consistently viable over all time period periods at all 3 temperatures tested. The F strain vaccine viability was most quickly reduced with 90 F water compared to 39 and 72 F water, with significantly reduced viability immediately after initial reconstitution. A similar trend was observed with the ts-11 stain vaccine at 90 F, but not until 15 minutes after mixing. Viability of the ts-11 stain continued to be significantly reduced at 30 and 60 minutes after mixing at 90 F. Overall, the data from this study suggests that distilled water used to reconstitute and dilute live MG vaccines should be relatively cool to maintain and prolong the viability of the organisms. Researchers have also evaluated additives that can be used to adjust the ph and tonicity/osmolarity of water used to reconstitute vaccines. One such product (see Vaccine techniques page 6)

5 Poultry Science Page 5 Happenings The Poultry Science Department hosted a tailgating party for faculty, students, alumni, industry friends and family during the MSU Homecoming Oct. 6. More than 75 people enjoyed chicken fajitas provided by the department. The department has celebrated homecoming for many years at the poultry building. This is the first year festivities have been held near the football stadium in the Junction, allowing the group to enjoy the outdoors and be closer to the other pre-game festivities. A new building was opened at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Georgia on Oct. 16. This building is a model commercial broiler house complete with feeding, drinking, lighting and ventilation equipment. Several university poultry departments from across the southeast United States, including Mississippi State University, provided educational seminars. Dr. Craig Coufal from MSU presented information on innovations in the poultry industry and the value of poultry litter as a fertilizer. The Sunbelt Ag Expo is the largest agricultural tradeshow in North America and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Students, faculty, staff and their families gathered for the annual Poultry Science Club Fall Function Nov. 8 at the MAFES Conference Center. The Poultry Science Club along with their advisor Dr. Craig Coufal organized the event, and Dr. Tim Chamblee prepared the barbecue.

6 Page 6 Poultry science student awarded scholarship John Bergin, senior poultry science student, accepts the Mississippi Poultry Foundation s Grower Advisory Committee Scholarship from MPA Chairman Wally Taylor during the Mississippi Poultry Association Annual Convention in Destin, Fla., on Sept. 21. John is the son of Al and Leasa Bergin of Forest, Miss., and is a graduate of Forest High School. John is an active member of the Poultry Science Club, has been a member of the MSU Poultry Judging Team and will graduate in December. After graduation, John plans to pursue a career in the egg industry with Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. Poultry Science Upcoming Events A continuing education credit session for CAFOpermitted poultry growers will be held Dec. 6 in Laurel at the Dixie Electric Power Association offices. The program starts at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Craig Coufal will present information on air emissions from poultry operations from 9 to 11 a.m. Dr. Sue Ann Hubbard will discuss bird health-related topics from 11 to noon. The event is sponsored by the Mississippi Poultry Association with a meal served at noon for participants. The Southern Poultry Science Society s International Poultry Science Forum will be held on January 21-23, 2008 in Atlanta, Ga. Several faculty and graduate students from the MSU Poultry Science Department will give presentations at the meeting on recent research. The International Poultry Exposition will be held in Atlanta, Ga. January 23-25, This is the largest poultry exposition in the world, and companies from around the globe will showcase the latest in poultry production equipment, supplies and technology. The Expo also features a college student career program, and several students from the MSU Poultry Science Department will attend. tested was a reformulation based on USDA-ARS Poultry Research Unit studies - of Spray-Vacâ, a vaccine additive, manufactured by Animal Science Products, Inc., Nacogdoches, TX. This product was found to be effective for not only MG vaccines, but also viral vaccines such as Newcastle and infectious bronchitis. Spray-Vacâ can be used with distilled, municipal or well water. This product prevents the decline of vaccine titers often seen when vaccines are diluted in chlorinated or distilled water because it helps adjust the ph and counteracts the chlorine in the water that may kill the vaccine organisms. It also colors the water so the user knows for sure the water has been treated. Additional work has studied the factor of vaccinator delivery pressure and its relationship to nozzle size, which affects both delivery rate and droplet size. Three Vaccine techniques (continued from page 4) types of nozzles (coarse, medium and fine) were tested at 40 and 60 psi to determine the droplet sizes generated as well as as applied coverage and deposition. The median droplet size ranged from 154 to 192 mm for all combinations of nozzles and pressure, with little correlation to the nozzle classification by the nozzle manufacturer. Very few respirable droplets (<10 mm ) were observed for any treatment. Coverage and deposition were greatest for the coarse nozzle, followed by the medium and fine nozzles. Vaccine viability appeared unaffected by any of the treatments tested. The relative similarity of droplet sizes coupled with the disparity of coverage and deposition between nozzle types indicated that delivery rate is of greater concern than droplet size, especially given the negligible amount of respirable droplets observed.

7 Poultry Science Page 7 Important Biosecurity Survey Coming to Poultry Producers The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Mississippi State University is requesting the help of poultry producers to make sure the Mississippi poultry industry remains safe from the threat of avian influenza (bird flu). That is why poultry producers will be receiving a short survey in the mail in the near future from the CVM. This survey will help the Mississippi Board of Animal Health assess the likelihood of a highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain entering into and/ or spreading throughout the Mississippi poultry industry. The information from this survey will help the State Veterinarian s office and your poultry industry develop and improve existing surveillance and monitoring programs to help guard against the introduction of an AI virus into our state. Why should we be concerned about the introduction of AI into our commercial poultry industry? A single, confirmed isolation of even certain low pathogenic strains of AI from one farm will be enough to prevent exports from our state for a long period of time, and exports are essential for our industry to remain profitable. In the event of the introduction of a HPAI strain such as H5N1, whole houses of chickens could die very suddenly. At the very least, infected farms will be quarantined, and the rest of the flock will be humanely destroyed. This does not even begin to address the human health concerns that would arise from infection with this particular AI strain. Any way you look at it, this is a very real and serious threat. That is why the CVM needs your participation in the survey. Poultry producers will receive a questionnaire in the mail about certain biosecurity related matters. Please do not throw the survey away. The questionnaire has been designed to be short and simple, as well as easy to return by mail with prepaid postage. All responses will be anonymous, so please answer the questions as honestly and accurately as possible. Poultry company personnel have already participated in this project as well. Producers do not have to participate, but the results will only be as good as the number of responses received. Please help the CVM at Mississippi State University protect our industry by completing and returning this important survey. The basics of soil and broiler litter testing Almost all commercial scale poultry operations in Mississippi are required by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to have an environmental operating permit that includes a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Nutrient management concerns the amount, source, placement, form and timing of nutrient and soil amendment applications to ensure adequate soil fertility for plan crop production and to minimize harm to the environment. NMPs account for the nutrients available from the soil and other sources, crop nutrient use, soil and crop management practices, environmental risks, and documentation of how you use the soil. In developing an NMP, you should include sitespecific soil testing and litter analysis. Detailed instructions for soil testing are available at your MSU Extension Service office or on-line at pubs/infosheets/is0346.pdf. When the MSU Extension Service Soil Testing Laboratory analyzes your samples, you will receive fertility recommendations for each soil sample, according to the crops you indicated on the form that goes with your samples. You will also receive nutrient levels, ph, and lime requirements. The forms and soil sample boxes are available from your county Extension office. The cost is $6 per sample. Normal turnaround time is 4 to 7 working days once the laboratory receives the samples. For litter testing, the same principles as in soil testing apply, except samples are taken in the chicken house instead of the field. Divide the house into five equal sections. Take a sample from three places across the house in each section. Do not include the underlying soil in the samples. Blend the fifteen samples, place a subsample in a plastic bag, and submit the subsample for analysis to the Mississippi Chemical Laboratory. Submission forms are available at county Extension offices or from the State Chemical Laboratory. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium analysis is $50 per sample. Usual turnaround time is 7 to 10 working days. Commercial laboratories are also available for soil and litter sample analysis. Additional information is also available on Extension Information Sheet 1614, available from county Extension offices or msucares.com.

8 Page 8 Department Head s Corner By Dr. Michael Kidd Head and Professor Poultry Science Department This semester has been a difficult one with the loss of Dr. J. Paul Thaxton. I can not thank you enough for your prayers and support through this difficult time. Yvonne has been overwhelmed with your kindness and generosity. Although we can never replace Dr. Thaxton, we have been blessed to have him as a part of this department and influencing so many young men and women. Currently, Dr. Chris McDaniel is filling in by teaching anatomy this semester and will teach physiology next semester. We are in the planning stages regarding future direction and how we can best educate students and serve the poultry industry with new faculty. We have three graduating seniors this fall: Jody Ishee from Stringer, Shane Patterson from Philadelphia, and John Bergin from Forest. All three seniors are exploring opportunities in the poultry industry. We are stepping up our recruiting efforts. We have sent faculty and students to numerous high schools around the state to discuss opportunities in poultry. On September 19 th Jones Junior College brought 44 students from the Agricultural Science Department to Mississippi State University. The purpose of the trip was to introduce the students to Mississippi State University and discuss major options in Poultry Science. This trip was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association. Please inform us of opportunities as we would welcome a speaking engagement at interested high schools or civic organizations. For more information, contact: Michael Kidd, PhD Head and Professor mkidd@poultry.mstate.edu Craig Coufal, PhD Assistant Extension Professor ccoufal@poultry.mstate.edu Poultry Science Department of Poultry Science Mississippi State University Hill Poultry Science Building MS 9665 Mississippi State, MS 39762