Animal Sciences Commons^™

Sustainable And Profitable Broiler Nutrition, Sergio R. Fernandez

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

These proceedings accompany a presentation on optimizing protein nutrition of broilers while minimizing environmental impacts of nitrogen excretion. The continual advancement of muscle development in modern broilers requires constant alignment of amino acid needs. These proceedings outline the importance and progression of feed grade amino acid supplementation in broiler nutrition.

Net Energy: The Precision Path To Sustainability, P. Srichana, A. C. Tay-Zar, M. Wongphatcharachai, C. Chanseyha

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Adaptation of the net energy system in broiler diets will increase least cost formulation flexibility. These proceedings outline a net energy system developed and implemented in practice. In addition to lower carbon and nitrogen inputs in dietary formulation, the net energy system reduced feed costs.

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone: Evaluating Environmental Risks And Conflicts In Golf Course Landscapes, Meredith Boos

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

1) This review investigates the relationship between pesticide use on golf courses and in agriculture to determine whether the adverse health effects documented in agricultural settings also apply to golf course environments. While the negative health effects from agricultural pesticide use are well established, golf courses use pesticides with greater frequency and intensity, suggesting a potentially higher exposure risk for both workers and players.

2) This study proposes methods to quantify pesticide bioaccumulation on golf courses and adjacent lands. We hypothesize that areas surrounding golf courses will exhibit a spatial gradient of pesticide accumulation, increasing with proximity to treated sites …

Layer Industry Update: Nutrition Associated With Changes In Production Systems, Kenneth E. Anderson, Ishab Poudel

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This is not a hardcore research presentation but rather an overview of three North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Tests. I used the 39th, 40th, and 41st Layer Test Reports that cover the years 2013 through 2025. The proceedings cover white and brown egg strains as groups and the cage and cage-free production environments. Over all three of these tests the production environments were the same and met UEP Cage standards and the Humane Farm Animal Care cage-free standards. There are papers outlining the changes in more detail with all the statistics. This is an overview of visual trends in …

Field Experience And Production Challenges In Australia And New Zealand, Nick Rodgers

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Variability management represents the primary technical challenge facing the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) broiler industry's vertically integrated operations. This analysis examines systematic approaches to controlling seasonal performance fluctuations, raw material quality variations, emerging disease pressures, and evolving welfare demands. Key variability sources include climatic extremes, season to season raw material quality and nutrient value variability and intermittent [mostly enteric] disease challenges, particularly in no antibiotics ever (NAE) production systems. Solutions require a scientific, data-driven approach with insights from field experience for causation identification and a collaborative approach within business functional units, and across industry collaborators such as suppliers and …

Broiler Breeders Today: Feather Development And Nutrition, Justina Caldas

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

The broiler industry in the US has observed a consistent decline in fertility and hatchability, particularly the past 5 years. There are numerous managerial and nutritional approaches to optimize the pullet and subsequent mature broiler breeder, and these proceedings focus on feathering. Moreover, these proceedings examine the quantity and quality of broiler breeder plumage as affected by both pullet and hen nutrition.

Utilization Of Golden Pennycress In Broiler Diets, Marley M. Knowles

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance in broiler chickens fed diets containing golden pennycress meal (GPCM), with and without a flavor additive. Golden pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is a winter cover crop grown in the Midwest that is rising in popularity as a cash crop used for biofuel production. After oil is pressed out of the seeds, a meal remains that is usually discarded. Incorporation of this meal (23% protein, 15% fat) into feedstuffs for broilers would be an efficient way to make biofuel production more sustainable. In one study, Cornish Cross three-day-old chicks (n=12) were …

Leukocyte Infiltration Profiles At The Site Of Intradermal Injection Of Silikon-1000 In Scleroderma-Prone Ucd200/206 And Healthy White Leghorn Chickens, Katee L. Johnson, Jossie M. Santamaria, Chrysta N. Beck, Gisela F. Erf

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Intradermal injections of silicone-based fillers for the face and body may cause chronic inflammation and fibrotic reactions in some individuals. Chickens from the UCD 200/206 White Leghorn (WL) line spontaneously develop a fibrotic autoimmune disease known as scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (SSc). Using the SSc-prone UCD and healthy WL chickens, a longitudinal study was conducted to examine the cellular inflammatory responses to intradermal (i.d.) injections of sterile SILIKON-1000. Specifically, the pulp (a skin derivative) of growing feathers (GFs) was i.d. injected with sterile SILIKON-1000 or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as injection control (8 and 3 birds/line, respectively; 10 µL/GF; 20 GFs/bird). Two GFs …

Pygoscelis Penguins Prefer Different Oceanographic And Terrestrial Habitats During The Austral Summer, Katherine L. Gallagher, Rachel Herman, Katherine Walton, Michael S. Dinniman, Heather J. Lynch

OES Faculty Publications

Pygoscelis penguins interact with both terrestrial and marine environments, especially during the austral summer when they raise their chicks. Accessible ice-free ground spaces serve as locations for penguins to build colonies and successfully raise chicks while the surrounding marine environment serves as the foraging grounds for adult birds. Penguins must be able to navigate through the waters around their colonies to forage for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), their primary prey during the austral summer. Krill, whose distributions are driven partially by the surrounding physics and partially by their behaviors, must also be plentiful in the waters near the …

Climate Change Affecting Waterfowl Migration, Destiny Fox

D.U.Quark

Climate Change is a major environmental factor in waterfowl migration patterns. Migratory waterfowl are species of birds that live in or around wetlands, mainly including lakes, streams, and marshes. Contaminated bodies of water at stopover sites during migratory seasons can lead to death among many species of waterfowl, as well as water borne diseases from snail eggs. Changing environmental factors can also lead to negative effects on the bird’s ability to forage properly. These environmental factors include the evaporation of several wetlands that have led to waterfowl foraging in local farmers’ land. Focusing more heavily on improving satellite tracking could …

Providing Proteins To Belizean Residents Through Poultry Products, Ellis Freel

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Belize is a food insecure, developing country. Although Belize has plenty of nutritious food in-country, the exportation of that food to generate income contributed to a distribution issue of that nutritious food. More impoverished areas of Belize do not have access to nutritious food because of the lack of affordability and high export rates. Diets with a lack of food, or lack of balanced, nutritious food can negatively impact growth and cognitive development, especially in children. Poultry is one of the only products in Belize not able to be exported. Implementing poultry into Belizean diets would affordably alleviate food insecurity …

Biosense: An Automated Sensing Node For Organismal And Environmental Biology, Andrea Contina, Eric Abelson, Brendan Allison, Brian Stokes, Kenedy F. Sanchez, Henry M. Hernandez, Anna M. Kepple, Quynhmai Tran, Isabella Kazen

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Automated remote sensing has revolutionized the fields of wildlife ecology and environmental science. Yet, a cost-effective and flexible approach for large scale monitoring has not been fully developed, resulting in a limited collection of high-resolution data. Here, we describe BioSense, a low-cost and fully programmable automated sensing platform for applications in bioacoustics and environmental studies. Our design offers customization and flexibility to address a broad array of research goals and field conditions. Each BioSense is programmed through an integrated Raspberry Pi computer board and designed to collect and analyze avian vocalizations while simultaneously collecting temperature, humidity, and soil moisture data. …

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

First off, I should reiterate that records are only mentioned in this Introduction and in the text when they add to or fine-tune data included in BONO (Birds of Nebraska – Online (outdoornebraska.gov). It was my expectation that as the number of birders and in particular those reporting to eBird continue to increase, gaps in the database will be filled and my job will become simpler. However, this expectation is yet to be realized, likely due to increasing movements and activity among birds that appears to be due to increasing severity of weather events, such as heat, cold, and drought, …

First Breeding Confirmation For Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis) Along The Big Bend Reach Of The Platte River, Jacob C. Cooper, Cody Mcgregor, Letitia M. Reichart, Janet Steele

Nebraska Bird Review

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is a highly nomadic species of North American nuthatch prone to large movements across the entire continent (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). This behavior has resulted in both a lack of geographic variation across the continent and propensity to colonize isolated patches of suitable habitat (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). In the Bessey District of the Nebraska National Forest (NNF), Red-breasted Nuthatches were one of the first coniferous-forest bird species to colonize and begin breeding in the isolated planted stands of pine (Zimmer 1913, Bray 1994). Despite the increasing number of records for the species …

Index To Volume 92

Nebraska Bird Review

Able, K. A. 131
Adams, H. 88
Alexander, Jan 33
Allard, Savannah 33
Allen: C.R. 167; Edward 58
Allison, Betty 34
Altman, Dakota 33
Ames, Cheryl 68
Amy, Peter 68
Anderson: Ann 157; Brett 32, 34; Logan 61; Rachel 33; Will 125
Andersson, Justin 34
Ani, Groove-billed 134
Archer, Kellen 33
Arends, Jim 34
Audubon, John J. 18, 19, 20
Austgen, Jane 34
Avocet, American 58, 92, 111, 148, 169

. . .

Zach, Joel 34
Zicafoose, Kirby 32
Zimmer, J.T. 167
Zimmerman, Kelsey 63
Zoller, Lawrence 61
Zonotrichia leucophrys: leucophrys 16, 72; oriantha 16, 72

Mccook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, Gary Roberts

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2024 NOU Fall Field Days were held in McCook on September 20–22, with approximately fifty-one people in attendance. The programs were held at McCook Community College Student Union. A special thanks to Boni Edwards and Jan Johnson for planning the meeting.

Field trips were led by Bill Flack—Medicine Creek Reservoir and Cambridge Park, Robin Harding—Red Willow Reservoir and Culbertson Trail, Joel Jorgenson—Swanson Reservoir and Hitchcock County, and T.J. Walker—Rock Creek Recreation Area and Dundy County. Counties included were Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Lincoln, Perkins, and Red Willow.

A total of 139 species were observed with notable sightings …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2024) 92(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, by W. Ross Silcock

First Breeding Confirmation for Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) along the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River, by Jacob C. Cooper, Cody McGregor, Letitia M. Reichart, and Janet Steele

McCook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, by Gary Roberts

Index to Volume 92

Subscription and Organization Information

The Impact Of In Ovo Administration Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On The Gut Health And Immune Competence Of Broiler Chickens, Shreeya Sharma

All Theses

Due to the incomplete development of their immune system, newly hatched chicks are vulnerable to a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including enteric bacterial pathogens during the early stage of life. To boost their immune system during this critical period, numerous studies suggest early feeding, either in ovo or immediately post-hatch, of nutrients and immunomodulators such as prebiotics, probiotics, phytobiotics, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) ligands, vitamins and minerals. Probiotics, defined as live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer beneficial effects on the host, have been extensively studied for their effects on poultry health. Supplementation of probiotics to chickens has demonstrated a broad spectrum …

Food Safety, Livestock Health, And Productivity Of A Layer Farm Following Implementation Of A Certified Haccp System In Japan, Hiroshi Akaike, Makoto Nagai, Tomomitsu Alexandre Okatani, Sumalee Boonmar, Yukio Morita

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study examined the safety and productivity of a layer farm over a 3-year period following the implementation of a farm Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system in 2019. The critical control point was “automatic egg collection” and no deviations from critical limits were observed, indicating the eggs were safe. In addition, the egg production rate increased and the feed conversion rate decreased. In contrast, the viability after the introduction of a farm HACCP system, in which the replenishment of new hens was discontinued after forced molting, showed an increasing trend. These results suggest that the HACCP system …

Prevalence And Pathology Of Endoparasitic Infections Of Rock Pigeons (Columba Livia) In Taiwan, Chih-Li Yu, Yen-Li Huang

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Pigeon racing is popular in Taiwan, but most lofts are located on residential roofs or in attics, which means pigeons could potentially spread parasites to humans. It is necessary to investigate the prevalence and diversity of endoparasitic infections in pigeons. This study investigated endoparasitic infections in 301 pigeons (both loft-kept racing and feral pigeons) in Taiwan using gross and histopathological examinations. The identified endoparasites included Trichomonas spp. (30.2%, 91/301); Ascaridia spp. (22.3%, 67/301); Haemoproteus spp. (20.6%, 62/301); Eimeria spp. (11.0%, 33/301); Capillaria spp. (7.3%, 22/301); Hexamita spp. (6.0%, 18/301); Raillietina spp. (4.7%, 14/301); Heterakis spp. (2%, 6/301); and Dispharynx sp., …

Pest Bird Control: Bait / Toxin Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the bait, poison and toxin (bait) products available for use in Western Australia (WA) to control pest birds.

Shell Translucency: A Novel Eggshell Quality Parameter In Broiler Breeders, Duarte Neves, Austin Jasek, Colwayne Morris, Raquel Burin, Kevin Stephens, Marco Rebollo

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

In the United States, nearly 240 million commercial broiler breeder eggs are incubated weekly with an average hatchability of 79.1% (Third Party Reporting). Between 160 eggs/hen and 125 chicks/hen the loss is considerable. In 2007, an estimated 1% improvement in hatchability would escalate profits by over $25 million to hatcheries and markedly increase profitability in broiler operations (Schaal and Gherian, 2007). In order to tap into top hatchability performances, egg management in commercial hatcheries such as egg storage time and conditions, incubation temperature and humidity, as well as turning frequency are of utmost importance (Vick et al., 1993; Reis et …

Red Fox, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the red fox in Western Australia (WA).

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a native of the northern hemisphere where it occurs throughout most of Europe, Asia, North America, and the northern coast of Africa. The red fox was first introduced to Australia (Victoria) from Britain as early as 1845 for hunting with foxhounds. Having become successfully established in Victoria by about 1870, it colonised most of mainland Australia over the next 70 years. Foxes are not found in the most northern regions of Australia, including northwest Kimberley.

In WA, the fox is a declared …

Blend Feeding Broilers To Daily Nutrient Requirements, J.T. Pope

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Broiler producers and nutritionists have used phase feeding as a practical means to define broiler feeding programs. Each feed phase has discreet nutrient definitions intended to be fed for a defined number of days based on a feed mass delivered per broiler. A typical broiler feeding program would consist of three to five feed phases over the production cycle that intend to address the changing nutrient requirements as broilers age. Phase feeding programs are easily defined, practical to manage, and provide a predictable cost structure for broiler producers. Despite the practicality of phase feeding, there are inherent flaws that will …

Current Trends And Experiences From A Contract Research Organization Perspective, Dan Moore

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

The primary goal of this presentation is to provide an update on the trends of research observed at a contract research organization (CRO) in recent years as it relates to species, study design type and products tested, as well as, challenge models used and products that have shown benefits in various study designs. The information in the presentation is based off of studies conducted from 2014-2024 at one CRO, Colorado Quality Research (CQR), and represents the experiences at CQR. Many of the parameters discussed will be from 2014-2019 and 2020-2024 to observe trends from over 5 years ago and more …

Importance Of A Rooster Feed In Broiler Breeder Production, Alex Corzo, Marcelo Silva

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Of all feed phases in poultry production, rooster feeding is arguably the least studied. During the rear phase, there is general agreement that male and female broiler breeders can be provided a common feed program, only differing on feed amounts provided, that results in growth targets reached for each sex. It is during the production phase that there is some disagreement on the best way to support the nutritional needs of the adult rooster. A considerable segment of the world does employ a rooster feed as a way to better support the nutritional needs of working males. Other poultry operations …

Vitamin Update And Sustainability, Edgar Orlando Oviedo-Rondón

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This presentation addressed the status of research on vitamin nutrition in poultry species and current recommended levels. The economic, environmental, and socio-political aspects of sustainability are addressed. Most of the information presented is described in detail in the book Optimum Vitamin Nutrition for More Sustainable Poultry Farming (Oviedo-Rondon et al., 2023). However, this presentation also used more recent publications and news of the latest events related to scientific recommendations and the worldwide vitamin market. The objective is to provide a brief overview of scientific findings to aid nutritionists in the decision-making process when selecting optimum levels for poultry nutrition. …

Every Day Feeding Of Broiler Breeder Pullets, David Brandt

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Broiler breeders are characterized by their fast growth and sensitivity to light stimuli. Unlike commercial layers, they have a lower egg production rate and are kept on the floor during rearing and laying periods. Fertile eggs are the primary objective, necessitating careful management of their egg-laying properties, while controlling their body weights. Unrestricted feeding leads to early laying with poor peak and persistency in egg production. Therefore, nutrient intake must be restricted to achieve target body weights at light stimulation (22 weeks). This involves both quantitative and qualitative feed restrictions. Quantitative feed restriction can lead to issues such as poor …

Integration Of Commercial Broiler Data Into A Broiler Growth Model, David Brandt

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This study explores the alignment of theoretical broiler growth models with practical farm conditions, emphasizing the value of integrating commercial data into simulation models. The EFG Broiler Growth Model, developed by Emmens, Fisher and Gous, is highlighted for its mechanistic approach, predicting growth based on feed intake. While empirical models are useful, they are limited by changes in genetics. Both mechanistic and empirical models struggle to predict how broilers will respond to feed under the challenging conditions typically experienced in commercial operations. The study also discusses the development of empirical models to determine broiler responses to balanced protein and energy, …

Effect Of Curcuma Longa On Growth And Lipid Profile Of Broiler Chickens Across Seasons, Sehrish -, Roheela Yasmeen

Journal of Bioresource Management

The poultry sector plays a critical role in driving economic growth and meeting the protein needs of the population. Recently, natural additives like turmeric (Curcuma longa) have attracted attention for their antimicrobial properties and their potential to reduce the reliance on antibiotics in poultry feed. This study evaluated the effects of turmeric supplementation at varying concentrations on broiler chickens during winter and summer seasons. Over a 42-day period, 40 broilers were divided into four groups: Control, Experimental Group 1 (1% turmeric), Experimental Group 2 (1.5% turmeric), and Experimental Group 3 (2% turmeric). Vaccination against Newcastle Disease (ND) and …