Alabama Poultry, January/February 2009

January/February 2009 – VOL. 5 NO. 1

AP&EA P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Address Service Requested

Board of Directors Officers Ken Taylor, President, Anniston* Fred Cespedes, Vice President, Hanceville* Wendell Shelton, Treasurer, Boaz* John Pittard, Secretary, Guntersville* Jack Sherwood, Immediate Past President, Troy* Directors Johnny Adcock, Woodland* Ronnie Adrian, Collinsville George Attwood, Anniston Roger Chappell, Cullman Billy Conquest, Cullman Melissa Durbin, Birmingham Randall Ennis, Huntsville Tim Esslinger, Eufaula Dale Gambrill, Snead Billy Gilley, Cullman Harold Hunt, Gadsden Spence Jarnagin, Huntsville* Ted Lankford, Athens Heath Loyd, Decatur David Massey, Montgomery Dennis Maze, Horton Joe McGlamery, Enterprise Todd McMahen, Dothan John Roberts, Cullman Kenneth Sanders, Brundidge Roddy Sanders, Gordo Taylor Steele, Albertville Phyllis Thomas, Russellville David Thompson, Ashland Stanley Usery, Athens Ricky Walker, Snead Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Mickey Humphries, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Perry Oakes, Auburn

*Executive Committee Members

AP&EA STAFF Johnny Adams – Executive Director Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director

Alabama Poultry is published by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association 465 South Bainbridge Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-265-2732 Fax: 334-265-0008 Send editorial and advertising correspondence to: Alabama Poultry Editor P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Advertising rates and closing dates available upon request.

Editorial matter from sources outside AP&EA is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may or may not coincide with official AP&EA policy. Publication does not necessarily imply endorsement by AP&EA.

w w w. a l a b a m a p o u l t r y. o r g

President’s MESSAGE

Spring is not only a time for planting seeds and preparing a foundation for an eventual harvest of the future, but it is also a time for planting seeds in our government. The Alabama Legislature convened for its regular session in February and will continue to consider legislation well into May. Many bills have been introduced that affect our poultry industry. Bills concerning labor law, the environment, taxes, immigration and many other issues that affect us have been introduced this year just like in past years. One legislative issue that seems to be on the rise is “animal rights” legislation.

In the past, we have seen similar legislation but that legislation mostly concerned household animals like dogs and cats. This year there seems to be a trend of legislation concerning farm animal welfare. There is one bill that calls for stiffer penalties for cockfighting and raising roosters for fighting. The original bill that was introduced basically outlawed the ownership of fighting roosters. The agriculture lobbyists were eventually successful in substituting the bill that would not make it a crime to simply own or possess a fighting rooster.

You may wonder why AP&EA, which represents the commercial production of poultry for food, would get involved in this issue. Although we don’t represent the breeders of fighting rooster cocks, we do acknowledge that it is a thriving industry in Alabama. These breeders pay taxes, contribute to the economy and, in many instances, keep the post offices open in many rural areas of the state.

Most of these breeders would never attend a commercial cockfight. Most importantly they are responsible and work with our State Department of Agriculture and Industries to insure that any avian disease is detected through blood tests of the birds.

This proposed legislation would result in a misdemeanor crime if you were caught raising or training a bird to fight with a fine of $10,000. A second offense would make you a felon along with the fine. If this law passes, a cock breeder has to make a decision of whether to leave a profitable business or go underground and not submit to disease blood testing. Most avian diseases start with domestic flocks. Avian diseases in several other states including Texas, California and Virginia have cost tens of millions of dollars and have risked the state’s poultry industry. This is one reason this bill concerns us.

Finally, what do the animal rights extremists go after next? The elimination of cattle ear tags, the elimination of rodeos, or hunting and fishing. We are in uncharted waters as we deal with these new challenges. Animal farming’s future could be at risk.

FEATURING

THIS MONTH

Governmental Affairs Evening of Fun 2009 Association News Grower Profile: Robby Nichols International Poultry Expo Membership News: Recipes Faculty Profiles Practical Applications Coming Events

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Governmental Affairs

California’s Prop 2 – A Warning to Us All On Nov. 3, 2008, the state of California passed a referendum known as Prop 2 by a whopping 63.5 percent. Prop 2 creates a new state statute that prohibits the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand-up, and fully extend their limbs.

Voters in other states have voted to eliminate calf and pig crates, but this is the first time voters will have been asked to eliminate the practice of confining chickens in battery cages.

The practice of confining hens in battery cages is one that has been approved by the Scientific Advisory Committee for Animal Welfare of the United Egg Producers. It has been found to actually improve bird health while also increasing egg production when compared to free range chickens.

A recent study, commissioned by opponents of Prop 2, concluded that 95 percent of California’s lucrative table egg industry would be lost by 2015, when the law is scheduled to go into effect. Total impact annually would be a loss of $648 million and the loss of 3,561 jobs. An independent University of California Davis study concluded that the cost of eggs in California would rise by 20 percent and that consumers would be

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more vulnerable to salmonella from eggs trucked in from Mexico.

The Yes on Prop 2 campaign in California was run by Californians for Humane Farms, a front group for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). According to campaign finance reports from the California secretary of state’s office, by Sept. 27, 2008, HSUS had donated $3,665,000 to the campaign. It is estimated that by the end of the campaign, HSUS had put more than $8 million into the effort.

The California Democrat Party, U. S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, United Farm Workers and the Sierra Club also endorsed Prop 2.

HSUS, by the way, is not the same organization that takes in homeless and abandoned pets. They fund no animal shelters. They are a national fund-raising machine that promotes animal rights – not animal welfare. Their agenda is the total dismantling of animal agriculture in all its forms. Paul Shapiro, manager of HSUS Factory Farming Campaign said, “The ultimate agenda of animal rights organizations is to abolish all use of animals for any purpose.”

In 2007 they raised $130 million in contributions. PETA, their radical sister organization raised a reported $29 million.

Opponents of Prop 2, led by United Egg Producers, spent slightly more that $6 million in a losing effort, despite having the governor and most of the state’s newspaper editorial boards on their side.

On Feb. 19, 2009, a national con-

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ference was held in Orlando, Fla., sponsored by the United Egg Producers, to discuss the ramifications of Prop 2 to the various states. Representatives from 20 egg producing states and Canada were present.

UEP President Gene Gregory gave a brief overview of the Prop 2 campaign.

Later, Chris Myles of Golin Harris, a large public relations firm that handled the egg producers Vote No on Prop 2 campaign, reported that HSUS had paid a professional firm more than $465,000 to collect the signatures of over 700,000 registered voters to get Prop 2 on the California ballot. He also showed HSUS’s television commercials.

They took undocumented videos of animals “being mistreated” and built clever and misleading television commercials around them.

They demonized “corporate farms” and showed a nameless producer saying, “So what, they’re only animals, who gives a XXXX?” The No on Prop 2 side took the high road and talked about food safety and affordability, but rationality could not carry the day in the face of the emotionally charged case that the proponents of Prop 2 had built. Myles lamented, “We had lost when they started getting signatures on petitions.”

California is not alone in facing the animal rights onslaught. Other states currently under the gun include Washington and Illinois. Colorado, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Arizona and Delaware have all defeated HSUS sponsored referendums.

Colorado defeated HSUS even before they started collecting signatures. In October of 2007, a camContinued on page 6

Governmental Affairs Pr op 2: A War ni ng to Us A ll ( cont inu ed f rom pag e 4)

paign was begun to assure the right of Colorado farmers and ranchers to continue to guide decisions on animal welfare. In 2008, Gov. Bill Ritter signed a new farm practices bill that was a result of strategic efforts to prevent outside organizations like HSUS from attempting to regulate the state’s animal agriculture industry. Part of that process included the formation of a panel of industry experts to establish rules and answer public concerns about production methods.

The state legislation was a positive first step in thwarting HSUS from seeking a ballot initiative in the next few years. However, given the organization’s history, the Colorado Farm Bureau is confident that HSUS will be back.

In his closing remarks, UEP’s Gregory stressed the need to build coalitions with other stakeholders with an interest in protecting farmers and protecting safe and affordable food sources, and not just poultry producers and cattlemen. It is interesting to note that in the recent California election, the NAACP stepped outside their traditional affiliation with the Democrat Party to side with the California egg producers. There are many organizations that would be opposed to HSUS’s radical agenda, which if followed to its inevitable conclusion would result in mass poverty and world hunger. We must identify and establish ties with those groups.

Gregory also stressed the need for personal activism. Farmers need to stay informed and make their voices heard in their state capitols and in Washington, D.C., where we face a new administration with little practical agricultural experience.

Alabama certainly has a strong 6

tradition of activist poultry professionals. John Livingston and Wade Skidmore are two who come to mind. Each man worked closely with the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association to defeat legislation that would have been harmful to the Alabama poultry industry.

Fortunately, Alabama is not an initiative and referendum state. We have relatively few commercial table egg producers, plus many folks in Alabama still have deep rural roots.

Most of us know the difference between a household pet and a chicken or cow, so we have a tendency to say that it can’t happen here. But it can.

Even now, there is a bill before the Alabama Legislature, backed by HSUS, that would make cockfighting, raising roosters that could be used in fighting, or selling a rooster that could be used in fighting a class C felony with large fines and possible seizure of property.

At face value, it seems reasonable. AP&EA condemns cockfighting as do most Alabama poultry producers. But there is something more at work here.

AP&EA opposed the initial form of the bill because the severity of the penalties might have the effect of forcing those who breed and raise fighting cocks to take their operations underground. Their birds could be not be inspected by the Department of Agriculture, thus making them vulnerable to disease and then spreading that disease to their neighbors farms.

To HSUS, this might be a goal in itself. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States has stated, “We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.”

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AP&EA has been able to get some concessions on the bill, however, the bill still has a long way to go before being voted on. It is an example of how HSUS will do all that it can to find and exploit areas of vulnerability.

Unfortunately every year the polarity between farm and city grows as our cities expand and our rural population decreases. Many get their only first-hand knowledge of animals through their pets. Who can resist heart-tugging photos of puppies and kittens? Who doesn’t recoil at the site of an animal being abused?

However, we cannot let HSUA and PETA define the issue. It’s like answering the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” No matter how you answer, you lose. We must stake claim to the high ground before HSUS usurps our right to claim it.

We must act with a sense of restrained urgency. The other side is invigorated by their victory in California, and, having almost unlimited resources, they see Alabama, with its multi-billion dollar broiler industry, as too great a prize to ignore. If we wait for them to come to us, before we make preparations, like the egg producers of California, we are lost.

As only 2 percent of the nation’ s population, American farmers feed the world. But we have to do a better job in getting our message of stewardship and animal welfare out to the public, especially the urban public.

We must do all that we can to win the hearts and minds of those disconnected from whatever agricultural roots they may have had, before the other side starts collecting their signatures.

It is with great pleasure that AP&EA announces that Diamond Rio will entertain you at the Alabama Poultry & Egg 2009 Evening of Fun!

DIAMOND RIO GREATEST HITS II Thousands of musicians are vying at any given time for a glimmer of success. For most, just one hit record would fulfill a lifetime of dreams, which makes Diamond Rio’s accomplishments all that more significant. Fifteen years ago, they too were hoping for that one hit.

When the band released its debut single, “Meet In The Middle,” they kept their fingers crossed that it would reach country music’s Top 20 – maybe even the Top 10.

That wasn’t enough: The song went all the way to #1, making them the first country group in history to top the chart with a debut single.

They piled on enough successive hits to warrant a Greatest Hits album and now, 15 years into their career, Diamond Rio has taken that trip up the national charts so many times that the band is looking at … gulp …

Greatest Hits II, a landmark that

seems almost insane when the band reflects on the odds.

“Sometimes you can’t believe we’ve done so much,” bass player Dana Williams marvels, recalling that not so long ago, he and his five band mates were among those thousands vying for that one glimmer of success. “It pretty well blows your mind.”

Diamond Rio has indeed accomplished much. In addition to two compilations worth of hits, they have achieved gold or platinum sales with each of their studio albums, racked up 13 Grammy nominations, 15 consecutive Country Music Association nominations for Vocal Group of the Year, more than any country group in CMA history, two-time Academy of Country Music and four-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year.

Greatest Hits II provides a real opportunity to reflect on the band’s journey. With the emotional “One More Day,” the sonically inventive

Alabama Poultry Magazine

“Beautiful Mess,” the lively “Unbelievable” and the poignant “I Believe” leading the way, the album features some of the most identifiable material of the last decade – in part because Diamond Rio is so unique and non-conformist in its approach.

Further supporting that non-conformity is the inclusion of not one, not two – but four new songs adding to its legacy of stringent quality: the thoughtful “God Only Cries,” the outrageous “Redneck Love Gone Bad,” the personal “In God We Still Trust” and the intensely moving “Over You.” Ranging from the latter’s pop chords to the former’s strident twang, the new songs underscore Diamond Rio’s ability to craft a consistent sound from a versatile body of work.

“We’ve cut things that were way out of the box or outside of our comfort zone, because the groove was more R&B,” keyboard player Dan

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Evening of Fun Truman observes. “But in doing that, we’ve learned that you put our voices and our instruments together and it sounds like us.”

This guarantees that they sound like no one else and no one else can sound like them. Diamond Rio is certainly a country band, but one that straddles a fine line while defying tradition. The group’s bluegrass-tinged harmonies are simultaneously bittersweet and edgy, its choice of subject matter is both mature and risky, and its insistence on playing its own instruments instead of farming the recording chores out to studio musicians is, in the country community anyway, brazenly anti-establishment.

Diamond Rio is, in effect, a family-friendly group of guys with a trailblazing-rock-band mentality.

That’s a natural progression for six friends who tackled an unpredictable career in close quarters – first in a van as one of those faceless thousands trying to get noticed, then as an established act traveling in a bus and struggling to continually live up to, and exceed, the expectations created by its initial success.

“We were a band first, and if we had a record deal or not didn’t change who we were,” lead singer Marty Roe notes. “That’s really how we’ve always been, and will be. We love playing our music together, and I think we’ll be doing this a long time from now, because we feel it’s special.”

Though country fans have appreciated that for 15 years, the band’s history actually goes even farther back. Diamond Rio’s lineup started coming together when Truman and Roe joined the band in 1984. Guitarist Jimmy Olander climbed aboard a year later, followed by mandolinist Gene Johnson, whose tenor harmonies honed 8

during a period when he worked with Keith Whitley as a member of J.D. Crowe’s bluegrass ensemble, helped solidify the singular Rio vocal texture. Rock-bred drummer Brian Prout joined soon after, and bass player Dana Williams completed the lineup in 1989, his own blood connection to The Osborne Brothers providing a perfect complement to Johnson’s tenor and creating one of the most searing harmonic sounds in the business.

“You can pick Gene out and you can pick Dana out because their voices do not exactly follow how I sing,” Roe says, in admiration.

“They’ve got their own stylizations and I believe that makes the threepart harmony thing jump out at you.”

Once Williams rounded out the group, they were spotted and signed by record executive Tim DuBois in May 1989, the very month he opened the doors for Arista Records’ country office. That career step was significant, but it was almost immediately undermined.

Olander discovered he had a tumor, Johnson was injured while doing some carpentry to pay the bills, and Williams was seriously hurt in a boating accident.

They pulled through all those potential pitfalls, but it made the band realize just how tenuous their careers, and their lives, could be. In addition, shortly after the release of their first single, they found out that a business associate had tuberculosis. Moved by those events, they vowed that their future successes would come full-circle. In the summer of ‘91, with just one hit behind them and plenty of newfound responsibilities, they made a place in their schedule for a charity golf tournament in Nashville and were encouraged when they could give a

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little over $10,000 to someone in need.

That initial investment of time grew into an annual tradition, enhanced years later when Arby’s offered corporate muscle in creating the Arby’s Charity Tour hosted by Diamond Rio. The band now turns over checks exceeding $250,000 each year to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

“We felt very lucky and very blessed to be having hits on the radio and felt immediately that we need to give back,” Johnson explains. “We don’t just assume that our success is a gift to us. We try to spread it around to the community.”

That kind of selflessness has become a hallmark of Diamond Rio, not only in its charity work but in its signature sound and its inner workings. Where most groups endure lineup changes and public rumblings of unhappiness, there’s never been a hint of discontent from any of the six band members.

One reason for that remarkable development is that individual members respect each other as partners of this team. The band’s musicians have all relegated their own playing to some degree for the welfare of the whole.

They have enough ability as individuals that four members have earned Musician of the Year nominations from the Academy of Country Music, but they’ve chosen to put the spotlight not on themselves but on the material.

And that material is often risky.

They have their share of barnburners, particularly the catchy “Unbelievable,” but the thematic depth that underscores many of their songs is particularly apparent on Greatest Hits II. They cover aging in “Wrinkles,” spirituality in “I Believe” and Continued on page 30

To register, clearly print your information on the form below, cut it from the page using scissors, and mail or fax it to us!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Association News

Association News

N a t i o n a l C h i ck e n C o u n c i l a n d O t h e r Groups Oppose Boo st in Ethanol Content of Ga soline Richard L. Lobb NCC

The National Chicken Council and other food and agribusiness groups are opposing a drive by the ethanol industry to raise the percentage of ethanol that can legally be added to motor gasoline, a limit now set at 10 percent to protect engine performance and fuel mileage.

“Our organizations strongly oppose proposals to increase the level at which ethanol can be blended into motor gasoline, and we urge you to subject these proposals to the most careful analysis,” 10 associations said in a letter to Lisa Jackson, who took office recently as head of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In addition to NCC, groups signing the letter were American Bakers Association, American Beverage Association, American Frozen Food Institute, American Meat Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Turkey Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Restaurant Association, and the Snack Food Association.

Ethanol industry leaders, facing slumping demand for their product, are pressing the federal government to raise the 10 percent limit, first established in 1982. According to The Washington Times on Feb. 4, 2009, “On Tuesday, ethanol industry representatives told reporters and editors of The Washington Times that they plan to lobby hard to expand that amount to as much as 15 percent.”

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The 10 percent limit was originally set because EPA ruled that gasoline with that much ethanol was “substantially equivalent” to pure gasoline. To go beyond 10 percent, according to EPA, ethanol backers must prove that a fuel mixture with more ethanol (a form of alcohol) and less gasoline will not harm engine performance. The owner’s manuals of many makes of automobiles specifically warn drivers against using higher blends of ethanol because moisture attracted by the alcohol can harm components in the fuel system. Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., announced last month a recall of more than 200,000 luxury Lexus vehicles because “some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes,” the company said.

Ethanol also delivers less vehicle mileage per gallon, which is hardly noticeable at the 10 percent level but reaches a 30 percent loss in mileage for “E-85” fuel, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that can be used in “flexfuel” vehicles, according to the National Science Foundation.

In the letter to Ms. Jackson, the food and agribusiness groups said they support the development of fuels derived from “cellulosic” sources and other types of biofuels.

But EPA should hold the line on ethanol added to motor fuel until the agency completes a lifecycle assessment of the impacts of biofuels on climate change, as required by

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the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the letter said.

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA should also complete an assessment of the impacts of intermediate blends on engines and certify that there are no performance, safety, or environmental concerns with raising the 10 percent blend before authorizing such an increase, the letter said.

“As you know, a five-fold increase in the production of conventional biofuels since 2000, in combination with other factors, such as rising energy prices, poor weather, and global demand, has contributed to volatile commodity prices and a sustained period of commodity and food inflation,” the food and agribusiness groups wrote.

“Nearly one-third of the 2008 corn crop is being diverted from food and feed to fuel. Investing in cellulosic and advanced biofuels is one way the administration can help ensure that we are not pitting our energy security policies against our food and climate security policies. We urge you to oppose proposals to increase the amount of biofuel into our fuel supplies until critical studies are completed and sustainable alternatives are commercially available.”

The National Chicken Council represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process, and market chickens. Member companies of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States.

R ay H ilb urn S p ea ks to Cen tral Alab a ma Pou ltr y & E g g A s s oc i a t i o n on M a i n t a i ni ng B i o s e cu r i t y

(Above) Ray Hilburn

Board of directors of CAP&EA from left to right: Darrin Sanders, immediate past president (Crenshaw Co.), Andy Vardaro (Crenshaw Co.), Tom Crenshaw (Butler Co.), Willie Hilburn (Crenshaw Co.), Harold Parmer (Butler Co.), Not pictured are Tony Wood (Crenshaw Co.) and Charles Gillion (Crenshaw Co.)

Using 9/11 as an example of a tragic lapse in security, Ray Hilburn, of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, spoke to the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association in January on the need to maintain biosecurity.

Hilburn stressed the need for footware decontamination. Visitors should always wear one-time use plastic boot covers before entering a

grower’s houses. Proper pest control is another disease prevention security measure. Darkling beetles are a chief carrier of AI. Hilburn cited the environment of the new solid sidewall chicken houses as being protective of the chickens, but also protective of viruses, because of the darkness and humidity.

Traffic control in the houses is

very important. He said that growers should have their serviceman travel from the cleanest house to the dirtiest house, from the newest to the oldest, to avoid contamination. If you have older birds and younger birds, work the younger ones first.

He reminded the audience that they should always shower and change clothes before visiting another grower’s farm, and above all, use common sense.

Every farm should have its own biosecurity plan. That plan should include a visitation log.

Viruses have an incubation period of 10 to 12 days, so if there is a problem, it did not happen the day before. Documentation is essential.

He concluded by saying, “biosecurity isn’t difficult, it’s just inconvenient.”

The number one goal of a biosecurity system is to prevent the spread of disease from farm to farm.

The next CAP&EA meeting will be on April 15, in Luverne, at the Tom Harbin Ag Center.

New officers of the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, from left to right: Michael Oglesby, vice president (Lowndes Co.), Jennifer Meadows, secretary (Lowndes Co.), Robert Parmer, president (Butler Co.).

Not pictured, Charlotte Wilson, treasurer (Butler Co.).

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Grower Profile

Robby Nichols loves his new hot tub. It’s a fact that I learned early in the interview with this Letohatchee farm family. I asked Kathy, Robby’s wife of almost 30 years, what they liked to do when they weren’t raising chickens? She told me that they liked to go down to Orange Beach, spend time with their children and grandchildren, and their church activities at Hayneville Christian Church, then, she said, rolling her expressive eyes, “Of course, Robby loves his hot tub!”

I was prepared for most anything, but a hot tub? It was like the day that I found out that out that Arnold Swartzenegger gets pedicures. My only response was an incredulous “No way!” But, hey, other successful folks do some things that are a lot stranger, and a hot tub really isn’t that strange, after all. But overlooking the chicken houses, ehh, why not?

Kathy said, “Robby always said that when he got his first eight chicken houses paid for, he was going to buy a hot tub.” She added, “I didn’t believe him, but that’s just what he did!”

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I told Kathy that I’d like to get a picture of them in the hot tub. “That’s not going to happen,” she squealed with a smile splitting her freckled face.

Robby and Kathy both grew up in the area and graduated from Lowndes Academy, Kathy in 1977 and Robby in 1978. They knew each other and their families were friends, but they never dated. Robby’s cousin, Connie, was Kathy’s best friend.

Kathy had been at Troy State University for a year and was just starting her sophomore year when one evening her phone rang. It was her best friend calling to say that her cousin, Robby, who was very shy, was now at Troy. And, being away from home for the first time, he was having some problems. She asked Kathy to call him and “just let him hang out with her some.”

The truth was that Kathy was having some trouble being away from home herself. She came from the close-knit Collirene community where everyone looked out for each other and each others’ children.

“In those days,” she said, “we’d start driving at 14

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or 15 around the community. One day, I took a curve near home going too fast, and met one of our neighbors. I had hardly gotten inside the house when the phone began to ring.

I picked it up and our neighbor told me that if he ever saw me driving like that again, I wouldn’t get my driver’s license until I was 21,” she continued, “but he never said anything to my folks, thank goodness!”

Their attachment to community and family was so strong that neither of them had really wanted to go off to college, but Kathy’s parents had pushed her, and Robby’s mother had insisted that he go.

Kathy called Robby to invite him to hang out with her and some of her other friends from home. Now, in her group, no one really dated, they’d just “hang out,” going places together as part of a group. What neither of them knew was that within two weeks of “hanging out” they would be talking about getting married.

At the end of the quarter, they both came home. Robby went to work with his father on the dairy farm and Kathy enrolled at Wallace Community College in Selma. They were Kathy and Robby share some giggle time with Jase (left) and Jack (middle), while Hoss gets a pet. married the next November.

Robby had bought a used house sources available . trailer from some friends at Auburn and parked it on his Three years after they were married, their first child, grandfather’s land. This was their first home.

Melissa Kay was born. Robby purchased his grandparWhile Robby partnered with his father in the dairy ent’s home in 1985. business, Kathy went to work with the Lowndes County It was an older home, but Kathy soon had it just the Department of Human Resources as a typist. She also way she liked it, even to the point of painting it yellow, attended night school, graduating from Auburn Uni- to the wonderment of some of their neighbors and famversity Montgomery. After 13 years with DHR, she be- ily. It was in this house, two years after Melissa Kaye came a social worker. was born, Robyn was born and two year later Clay was It wasn’t easy for the couple. They drove old cars born. and trucks, at times struggling to make ends meet.

Over the years, the dairy business had become Robby bought his own dairy cows, owning 1/4 of the harder and harder to make profitable. A quiet dissatisherd. His mother kept the books, and each month faction continued to grow in Robby.

Robby’s father would sit down with them to settle the In 1993 Robby contacted Steve Carroll, who at the expenses. Sometimes there would be surprises, a piece time was the broiler manager for Sylvest Farms, in of equipment that had needed repair or something that Montgomery about becoming a broiler grower. At the had to be replaced. One quarter of the expense fell on time, Sylvest was not building any new houses. their shoulders and they didn’t always have the reAlabama Poultry Magazine

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In 1998, Robby purchased his great aunt's house and a portion of the acreage from his father, moving his family down the road and away from, what Kathy still affectionately remembers as, “the little yellow house on the hill.” In 1999 Sylvest gave Robby approval to build six broiler houses. He sold his dairy cows in February and in April he started building six 40’x 500’ broiler houses.

By summer, he had his first chickens and, after 20 years in the dairy business, he never looked back.

In September of 2001, he built two more houses and in 2008, with his eight houses paid for, he built Robby and his son, Clay, are busy getting ready for a delivery of chicks. three mammoth 66’ x 600’ solid side wall houses, had the other houses Foods, suggested Robby Nichols. Robby agreed enthusidewalled and, just as he had promised himself, he siastically. He has since participated in a number of bought the hot tub. other significant Auburn poultry science projects.

From the very beginning of his involvement in the Currently, Robby is involved in a project that hits poultry business, Robby has been keen on learning as close to home. It seems that the ph in his well water is much as he can, and has always been willing to partici- deteriorating his evaporation panels. It’s a problem that pate in special projects. a number of other growers have experienced, as well.

Several years ago, Jim Donald of Auburn University In the nearly 10 years that he has been in the poultry was looking for a place to test automatic bird scale business, he has gone through two sets of pads, with a equipment. Michael Whiddon with Sylvest, now Koch third set falling apart now, at a cost of $10,000 per set.

(Left) Phillip Swindle and Andy Thomas of East Alabama Poultry Supply, and Jesse Campbell of Auburn University discuss solutions to Robby’s well-water problems.

(Below) Results of the ph problem can be easily seen. This is the third set of pads in eight years.

Under normal wear, a set of pads should last well over ing the day. They are a rambunctious crew, cluttering the carport and front yard with toys. Kathy obviously five years.

He is working with Jesse Campbell of Auburn Uni- loves every minute. Robby also seems to get a kick out versity to develop an injection system for neutralizing of the boys, especially now, with 28 days of downtime, the ph in his two wells. He also gets county water, but instead of the normal 14, before his next shipment of chicks. they have the same problem to a lesser degree.

Chad and another young man are busy getting the The ph problem has had no obvious impact, however, on his chickens. Robby is consistently one of houses ready for the next shipment. Robby gets to spend some time supervising and playing with the grandkids.

Koch’s top producers.

One reason for Robby’s success is his son, Clay. But, it’s not all leisure, there’s also a lot of paperwork Clay, now 22, works closely with Robby in all aspects that has to be done to satisfy the government.

He is concerned about new EPA air release reportof the farm. Clay graduated from Lowndes Academy where he played football. While at Lowndes, he also ing under the EPCRA program since his farm has more started his own lawn service business. He continues that than 125,000 broilers at one time. He’s hoping that the business as well as taking classes at L. B. Wallace Com- EPA will provide some guidance in assisting farmers with larger facilities. munity College, where He is also concerned he is majoring in busi“ R o b b y t r i e s t o d o t h i n g s c o r r e c t l y . about the cost of shavness.

Clay, who is unmar- I wi s h e ver yo n e was as i nt e re s te d i n ings for litter. He is currently paying $1,000 a ried, lives in a house d o i n g t h i n g s t h e r i g h t w a y .

H e p a y s trailer load. That is, fortrailer on the farm. His tunately, somewhat offprime responsibility is a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l .” set by the $20 per ton he caring for the three large Jim Donald gets for his litter from houses, known as Clay other farmers.

Nichols Farm. He plans On the farm there will to make a career in the always be challenges. This year, it might be the cost of poultry industry.

Both of the Nichols’ daughters are married and have propane, next year it might be something else. Through given Robby and Kathy grandchildren. Melissa Kaye is it all, the good farmers endure and prosper. Robby married to Chad Howard. He works with Pike Electric Nichols is one of the good ones.

Today, as the sun sinks into the west, Robby Nichols and she is a teacher at Pintlala Elementary School. They have 3-year-old Jase. Robyn is married to Cole Holley. may be sinking into his hot tub, a smile of satisfaction Cole works for his grandfather at Hoyt Henley Builders, on his face, as he looks at the chicken houses and the and Robyn is a radiology tech. Their son, Jack is 1 year farm, clean, neat and orderly.

Go ahead, Robby, you deserve it ... this tub’s for old.

Kathy, who is now retired, keeps the two boys dur- you!

On his 200 acres in Lowndes County, Robby Nichols raises both chickens and cattle. His hot tub is just up the road and on top of the hill.

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January/February 2009

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Alabama Poultry Magazine

January/February 2009

17

IPE 2009

ipe 2009: The big show goes on 888 Exhibits and cautious optimism`` Like the mythical Iowa cornfield … if you have it at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, they will come. And come they did, from the far-flung corners of the world. Their enthusiasm tempered by the souring of global economies, they came flint-eyed to find deals that they could carry home. According to IPE organizers, more than 18,000 poultry leaders from around the world came to Atlanta looking for solutions to high feed costs, food safety and other emerging issues. Amid financial uncertainty and cutbacks in poultry, egg and feed production across the globe, the 2009 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo promised solutions. Time will only tell if that promise will be realized.

As in years past, the mammoth show covered more acreage than most poultry farms. A total of 888 international exhibitors filled the two largest halls of the complex. There were manufacturers of poultry equipment from four continents, and potential buyers from the six inhabited continents. And while they didn’t necessarily come with checkbook in hand, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, when the doors opened, they were looking and networking, and talking the talk of international trade.

In the crowd you could see durags and kufis from Africa, fezes from Egypt, kimonos from Japan and even unadorned snoods and chin whiskers worn by Amish and Mennonites from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Their common focus was poultry and their common language was commerce.

Alabama was well represented in this mélange. American Proteins’ Fred Cespedes and First South Farm Credit’s Roger Chappell were manning Fred’s booth and talking with all comers. Dave Murdock, head of marketing for Aviagen, had his laptop humming as Randall Ennis had a line of people waiting to talk with him. Barry Fuller was also busy answering questions.

At the Hubbard booth, Dr. Don Conner, head of the Auburn University poultry science department, was seen receiving the Oliver F. Hubbard Memorial Poultry Science Scholarship for Auburn undergraduate poultry science student Kimberly Triplett from account manager, Larry Long. Auburn University had two booths at the IPE. Mitchell Pate, Dr. Joe Hess, Dr. Bob Voitle and a host of other students and faculty held down one booth, dedicated to the Auburn poultry science department. A second booth, operated by Jim Donald, Gene Simpson and Jess Campbell, represented the National Poultry Technology Center. Dr. Richard Guthrie, dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture was there to oversee their activities.

Shortly after visiting the Auburn booths, I ran into Steve Carroll of Merial

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January/February 2009

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Select, talking with a young grower and his wife just outside the Merial booth. Casey Jones was greeting customers at the L. B. White booth, although, I think I saw him take a couple of practice golf swings. Galen Grace anchored the Van Beek booth, while lovely Beth Lee graced the Lee Energy booth.

For part of my walk, I was joined by my old friend Richard Wyers, owner of Poultry Supply, LLC, of Walker County. It was his first IPE. It was also Jimmy Auvil’s first time as an exhibitor. He and several of his friends manned his booth. Near his booth, I met Eric Killen and Gene Boulware of Zee Company. Zee Company is part of the Vincit Group.

It was good to see the folks at Alltech. They are new members of the Association, and will be announcing a new rep to cover Alabama and Georgia soon. They make animal feed supplements.

I got a chance to meet Gary Sadler, regional sales manager for Hired-Hand at their large and well laid out booth. I also got to meet Jack Patton of Lewis Brothers Manufacturing at their booth where they were featuring their newest windrowing machine. Michael McGregor of Dura-Slat was also featuring some new hatchery trays, as well as the rest of Dura-Slat’s fine line.

The second day of the Expo, Dennis Maze and I got to spend some time with Gene Gregory, president and CEO of United Egg Producers. Gene was one of the leaders in the unsuccessful fight against California’s Proposition 2.

The passage of Prop 2, as it is called, may well bring about the end of California’s lucrative table egg industry. (See the article on page 4.) It also sends a warning to all of us in the animal agriculture industry.

The third day of the show, things had slowed dramatically, except for the lovely young ladies who were passing out ice cream cones and the guys at International Paper Company who were busy handing out limited addition wild life prints. Most of the customers had cleared out, but those who stayed were serious. The sales guys look forward to the last day because they know that the guys that come to the show aren’t there just on their bosses’ buck. They are there to buy.

Who bought and who sold? Who made deals or networked? I don’t know, but my feet were killing me. It was a great show, but walk those halls for three days and if you didn’t already have fallen arches, you soon would.

The Alabama state line looked real good, I can tell you!

Alabama Poultry Magazine

January/February 2009

19

Membership News

Int e rna ti ona l Poult ry Ex po/ Fe e d E xp o A t tra c ts In d u s tr y Le a d e rs ATLANTA – The 2009 International Poultry Expo/Feed Expo attracted more than 18,000 industry leaders from throughout the United States and around the world. Sponsored by U. S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the American Feed Industry Association, it is the world’s largest poultry and feed event.

The main attraction was the huge exhibit floor where 888 exhibiting companies displayed the latest equipment, supplies, and services used in the production and processing of poultry, eggs, and feed. All segments of the industry were represented, from live production and processing to further processing and packaging. Many firms take advantage of the annual gathering to introduce their new products.

“We are very pleased with this year’s Expo,” said newly-elected USPOULTRY Chairman Monty Henderson, George’s, Inc., Springdale, Ark. “We are particularly gratified with the number of attendees and exhibitors, in light of the current economic conditions.

The Expo is a total event. In addition to the exhibits, the educational programs keep industry management up to date on current issues and concerns. A unique Animal Agriculture Environmental Sustainability Summit focused on the challenges and solutions of environmental stewardship. The USPOULTRY education program featured Tom Hensley, president of Fieldale Farms, who gave the “Industry Outlook: An Executive Management Perspective.”

A special Market Intelligence Forum examined economic conditions in the poultry industry today and looked ahead to what 2009 will bring. Mike Donohue, Agri-Stats, discussed “Poultry Production – Are High Feed Prices Driving us to Ruin?”; Tom Elam, FarmEcon, covered “Low Profitability – Can We Blame it on Ethanol?”; and Dr. Paul Aho, “Poultry Perspective, reviewed International Market – What Does the Future Hold for the Poultry Industry?”

The College Student Career Program drew almost 300 students from universities around the nation. Graduating students interview for jobs with industry and allied firms, in addition to complementing their studies by seeing the latest technology used in the modern poultry industry. Company and organization meetings, the International Buyer Connection Program, InfoMart, publisher-sponsored programs, Pet Food Conference, and once-a-year networking opportunities all made the Expo the place to be.

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January/February 2009

Alabama Poultry Magazine

S te pping up the PAC E fo r a Sus ta ina ble F ut ure Alltech’s 2009 Symposium Challenges Industry to Secure Long Term Profitability in a Period of Crisis

DUBLIN, Ireland – As our economy and our businesses struggle and the world faces unprecedented challenges, the Alltech Annual Symposium will focus on finding answers to some of the major issues facing the animal feed industry such as rising feed costs, managing in a time of crisis, sustaining and growing business in the current environment.

“The Sustainability Principle – Securing Long Term Profitability in a Period of Crisis” is the theme for Alltech’s 25th Annual Symposium. This meeting is regarded as a premier industry conference, known

for the calibre of speakers and research presented. The meeting will comprise both industry and speciesspecific presentations as well as interactive sessions where professionals from around the world can exchange ideas and strategies and offer solutions to forge a brighter future for the animal nutrition industry.

Alltech’s Medal of Excellence will be awarded to Dr. David Byrne, former EU commissioner for health and consumer protection. Dr. Byrne will also take part in the Plenary Session where he will discuss “Crisis Management in Today’s Environment” and will challenge our industry to meet, what he calls, the “PACE Principle,” i.e. to achieve long-term profitability while continuing to be conscious of animal welfare, responsive to consumer needs

and environmentally friendly.

A Dynamic Agenda “The 2009 programme is the most dynamic to date’’ according to Alltech’s founder and president, Dr. Pearse Lyons, “to mark the 25th annual meeting, we will host the “Great Debate” on sustainability.

Here, representatives from the consumer food market and from the animal production industry will discuss the “PACE Principle” with the aim of exploring the viability of sustainability initiatives in the animal production industry”, he said.

Industry speakers, representing the dairy, beef, poultry, pig, ruminant, equine and aquaculture species groups, will then respond to Dr. Byrne’s challenge.

C umb ie Na m e d C olle g e of A g /A A E S D e v e l o p m e n t O f f i c e r a t Au b u r n AUBURN – Wes Cumbie has joined the development staff of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and will work primarily in the area of fund-raising for both the college and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Apopka, Fla., native is an Auburn alumnus who earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 2000 and a master’s in the same in 2005. Prior to joining the Auburn staff, he was membership director for the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association in Montgomery and, before that, was sales and marketing manager for White Oak Plantation in Macon County.

“To have the opportunity to come back to Auburn is an exciting and new challenge,” Cumbie said. “I have a passion for Auburn and a passion for agriculture, so now I get to combine the two and get paid to do it.

“We need to position ourselves to keep agriculture a top program at Auburn and in the state,” he said of his development duties. “We’re going to get after it.”

Richard Guthrie, College of Agriculture dean and AAES director, said Cumbie’s experience will be an asset.

“We are extremely pleased that Wes has joined our development team,” Guthrie said. “His background in agriculture and natural reAlabama Poultry Magazine

sources, both as a student here and out in the working world, will be invaluable in his efforts to raise funds that benefit not only our students and faculty but the agricultural industry and the public as well.”

January/February 2009

21

Recipes Chicken Jambalaya

Instructions

Chicken Part: Breast, Thigh

Preparation Method: Saute

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast and thigh meat, bone-less and skinless, cut into chunks 2 tbls vegetable oil 3/4 lb sweet Italian link sausage, sliced in ¼ inch rounds 2 cups chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped green pepper 2 tsp chopped garlic 2 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 tsp (heaping) purchased Cajun Seasoning Mix, or to taste 2 cups long grain rice 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper, or to taste 1 cup chopped green onions and/or tomatoes (optional)

Orange and Green Olive Braised Chicken Chicken Part: Thigh | Preparation Method: Braising

Ingredients

8 1/2 1 1/4 4 1 6 1 3 3 1/4 1/2 1/4

chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds) cup flour tsp salt tsp black pepper tbls olive oil orange cloves garlic, peeled cup orange juice cups chicken stock dried bay leaves cup pitted green olives tsp saffron cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 F.

In gallon size plastic bag with zipper top, combine flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken thighs, seal bag, and toss to completely coat with flour mixture.

In large, oven-proof sauté pan, warm olive oil over medium high heat. Remove chicken from bag,

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In large Dutch oven, warm oil.

Add chicken and over sauté medium high heat until browned.

Add sausage to pot; sauté with chicken. Remove both from pot.

Add onions, celery, green pepper and garlic; sauté until tender, about 9-10 minutes. If making red jambalaya, add paprika. Return chicken and sausage to pot. Add stock (or stock and tomato juice, or Bloody Mary mix if making red jambalaya) and Cajun seasoning and bring to a boil.

Add rice and return to boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook 25 minutes. After 10 minutes of cooking, remove cover and quickly turn rice from top to bottom completely. Continue cooking for remaining time. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add green onions and chopped tomatoes, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

shake off excess flour and place in pan, skin side down.

Cook chicken over medium high heat until golden brown, turning once, about 5 minutes per side.

While chicken is cooking, peel long strips of zest (skin of the orange with none of the white pitch) from the orange with vegetable peeler. When chicken is browned, add whole peeled garlic cloves to pan, placing around chicken. Reduce heat to medium and cook 1 minute. Add orange juice and bring to a boil; cook for 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, again bring to a boil and cook another 3 minutes. Add bay leaves, olives, saffron and orange zest to the pan. Cover and place pan in oven.

Cook chicken until fork can be easily inserted into chicken, about 50 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and place on serving platter. Place pan back on stove and bring to a boil; boil for 5 minutes more. Remove bay leaves and remaining garlic pieces; spoon sauce over chicken, top with parsley and serve.

Makes 4 servings

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Faculty Profile A u b u r n U n iv e r s i t y De pa rtm en t o f Po u ltry Sc ie nc e

D r. Oma r A . Oya rz a ba l Associate Professor AP&E A: Where did you grow up?

Oyarz abal : In Argentina.

A P &E A : Where did you go to school?

O ya rz a b a l : My first degree is in veterinary medicine from the National University of Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina. Then, I completed a M.S. and a Ph.D. degree from Auburn University.

AP&E A: What is your current scientific discipline?

Oyarz abal : Food safety.

A P &E A : How did you get interested in poultry?

O ya rz a b a l : My father bought a small farm and started raising broilers back in the early 1960s. At that time, broilers were sold mainly as live birds. Then, he also started a rotisserie in our home town. He was quite successful until the early 1980s, when a large outbreak of infectious bursal disease destroyed the production in a large number of farms in Argentina. The productivity was never recovered and eventually my father sold the rotisserie first and the farm later.

AP&EA: When did you join the faculty in the department of poultry science?

Oyarz abal : In 2003.

A P &E A : What courses do you teach?

O ya rz a b a l : POUL 5160: Principles of Food Safety. This course is for undergraduate students, mainly seniors and some juniors. I also teach POUL 7160: Advanced Prin-

ciples of Food Safety, which is a course for graduate students from different departments.

AP&E A: What is the focus of your research?

Oya rza bal : Our primaril research relates to the isolation, identification, and molecular typing, using DNA techniques, of campylobacter spp. isolated from live broilers or retail broiler meat. We have done some work with commercial antimicrobial applied during broiler production, and have tested several chemistries for potential use as antimicrobials to control bacterial foodborne pathogens, mainly salmonella and campylobacter, in broiler meat. In most of these cases, we do this type of work in collaboration with some poultry companies, or the allied industry.

and identification from foods, and it is now offered in May each year Participants come from poultry and meat companies, USDA, companies that develop microbial identification kits, commercial contract laboratories, international food agencies, and university researchers. In this workshop, participants learn what are the minimum requirements needed to start a laboratory to isolate campylobacter spp., and how to effectively isolate and identify these bacteria from food products.

For more information: Dr. Omar Oyarzabal Auburn University Department of Poultry Science 201 Poultry Science Building Auburn, AL 36849-5416 Phone: 334-844-2608 Fax: 334-844-2641 Email: oyarzoa@auburn.edu

A P& E A : How is your work at Auburn benefiting the Alabama poultry industry?

O ya r z a b a l : Our main focus is to teach how to properly isolate and identify campylobacter from poultry products. The idea is to have the poultry ind u s t r y Poultry Farms for Sale in Alabama (procesThe Progressive Group sors) ready Has Farms Available in Many Locations, for any regSix House Farm near Altoona ulation that Eight House Farm near Hackleburg m a y Eight House Farm near Russellville emerge. In Two Eight House Farms near Pineapple May 2007, We also have farms available in Georgia we started a If you are looking to Buy or Se ll a poultry farm workshop CALL TOM CROFT on campywww.poultryfarmsales.com or 770-316-4041 lobacter The Progressive Group Real Estate isolation

Alabama Poultry Magazine

January/February 2009

23

Practical Applications

J.B. Hess1, W.D. Berry1, R.J. Lien1 and M.J. Darre2 1 Poultry Science Department, Auburn University and 2Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut

Birds live in the visual world and require light to see what they are doing, to stimulate internal cycles and to stimulate hormone release (particularly in breeders).

For these reasons, a lot of attention has been paid to providing light for broilers and we would like to enlighten you with some of the current thoughts on light sources, light duration and light levels in broiler houses.

Light Sources:

Quite a few sources of light have been used in broiler houses over the years. Most have been at least moderately successful, but they do have differences that can be important in terms of bird response as well as economics of usage. Chromaticity (warmth or coolness, expressed in degrees K) of light bulbs can make a difference in how birds respond to a particular lighting type. In general, cool (>4000 k, more blue) is good for growth and warm (<3000 K, more red) is good for reproduction. So, in general, blue/green is better for growth and orange/red is better for reproduction.

Broiler producers, then, will make out better with lighting sources classified as cool.

Incandescent lights produce the entire visible spectrum, including a lot of infrared. They produce 8-24 lumens per watt, are dimmable and have a life of 750 to 2000 hours. Tungsten-halide lamps last 3000 hours at 20 lumens per watt. High pressure sodium lamps produce more in the yellow-to-red region, making them more useful for breeders. They produce 35 to 132 lumens per watt, require a ballast and can last for 24,000 hours. Fluorescent tubes come in different types. The compact cool white bulbs have a chromaticity of 4100, producing the best light for broilers. Fluorescents produce 50 to 60 lumens per watt, require a ballast and can last for 10,000 to 20,000 hours. Many broiler growers are putting in a line of compact fluorescent bulbs (to 24

January/February 2009

save energy) for times when higher light levels are needed, plus using incandescent bulbs (that use more energy, but are dimmable) when light intensity is reduced in the middle of the growout. Metal halide bulbs produce the correct chromaticity of light for broilers, but havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been fully tested yet. They produce 80 to 100 lumens per watt, require a ballast and must be mounted either vertically or horizontally. They last for 10,000 to 20,000 hours.

Several other light sources may work for broilers, although they have not been fully tested in this area.

Cold cathode lamps can be produced in the correct light spectrum. They require a ballast, but can be dimmable and are very long lasting (over 25,000 hours). LED lights are also a possibility for broilers. They come in different wavelengths (there are different bulbs for reproduction and growing broilers) and run on low voltage and wattage (1/10 the energy of an incandescent bulb and ½ the energy of a compact fluorescent). They are dimmable and recyclable, but depending on the type of fixture may require some electronic components to alter the voltage/amperage.

Lighting Programs:

Lighting programs (both duration and intensity) have given broiler managers a tool to control early spiking mortality, late leg problems and overall bird activity.

These programs have returned dividends handsomely in terms of increased income from better livability and reductions in activity-related downgrading due to scratching and cellulitis (IP). These improvements may come with a cost as lighting duration studies have shown decreases in breast meat yield due to slowing growth with a lighting program. In addition, growth patterns of each commercial strain of broiler are often thought to require fine tuning of lighting programs to find the mix of light

Alabama Poultry Magazine

duration and intensity that optimizes their genetic ex- Summary: pression of performance and yield.

We now have a large number of choices to consider Light Duration: when providing light in broiler houses. At the same time, more housing is totally enclosed, making our Extensive research at Auburn has looked at the ef- lighting choices that much more important. Economfects of light intensity and duration on growth, feed ef- ics are an issue with the tight budgets brought on by ficiency and processing yields of broilers grown to high energy prices, so some of the newer lighting common weights in Alabama. Lighting programs that sources that use less energy are getting a hard look from reduce growth early in the broilerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life to reduce mor- broiler growers. Lighting programs have continued to tality and leg problems originally dealt with light dura- evolve as growth characteristics of the commercial tion or the number of hours the lights were on. A dark broiler strains change over time. Both light duration and period slowed growth and avoided leg problems and light intensity are used to reduce mortality and improve flip-overs, often at the expense of body weight and efficiency, although white meat yield must be taken into breast meat yield. Breaking up the dark period with a consideration if that is a major driver for a particular short period of lights (1-2 hrs.) and using an increasing poultry company. Recently, animal welfare guidelines duration program (step-up lighting) reduced the losses that dictate lighting programs for meat birds have been in body weight, but rarely brought yield up to that seen adopted in Europe. If these are implemented here, we with a more continuous lighting program. will need to manage our lighting programs to avoid reRecent research at Auburn comparing programs ductions in broiler performance. mandated by the European Union (6-8 hrs. of dark/day) with those recommended by the National Chicken Council (4 hrs. dark/day) have again shown that significant dark periods do reduce yields of breast meat. Interestingly, the reductions seen were greater than the differences between strains. Poultry companies have moved toward high-yielding broiler strains for years, yet lighting programs may reduce yield significantly if the decrease in light duration is too severe.

Light Intensity:

Reducing the light intensity in enclosed houses has allowed broiler growers to keep birds calm (reducing scratching) and improve feed conversion at the same time. Lighting programs have continued to inch down in the intensity of light used once birds are beyond the early starting period. As light intensity decreases, it is important to look at affects on product yield as well as live performance factors. Research at Auburn indicates that a dim lighting program produced good growth and feed efficiency, while breast meat yield was decreased to the same degree as by decreases in duration.

When light intensities were tested on both short and long day lengths, dim (0.1 fc vs. 3.0 fc) light intensities helped birds on short light duration programs catch up in body weight, although white meat yield was reduced over birds given a long day length and higher light intensity.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Craftmaster

January/February 2009

25

Practical Applications C up ola c a n a dd a ddi tion a l a ir i nta k e a r e a

S pa c e s be tw e e n roo fin g pa n e l r idg e s s e rv e a s a i r i nta k e op e nin g s A ir in take o pen ings at eaves alo ng b ird b oa rd a n d a t ro ofin g a n e l r idg e s I ss u e : P r o p e r a t t i c i n l e t a r e a o p e n i n g

Attic air inlets are being installed in many poultry houses across Alabama and the United States poultry belt. These inlets allow growers to capture warmer attic air for minimum ventilation, thus reducing heating fuel costs, reducing relative humidity, and improving litter quality. We published a newsletter and white paper on Attic Inlet Technology in July 2008 detailing the pros and cons of different types of inlet systems (see www.poultryhouse.com to download this information).

This newsletter will point out areas of concern with installation practices that are occurring in the field right now. Some of what we are seeing may cause problems down the road. To avoid possible problems and fully realize their benefits, attic inlet systems must be well thought out, properly installed, and properly operated and maintained. Following are the most common issues we have seen recently in the field.

expect. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why: With attic inlets installed and operating when the minimum ventilation fans are running, a large portion of the incoming air will still be coming through the cracks, not the attic inlets. Any value associated with pre-heating of attic air will be reduced by the amount of cold air coming in through the cracks.

Bottom line on this is that attic inlets work best in tight, solid wall poultry houses. They will work reasonably well in tight curtain houses. Instead of spending money on attic inlets for a loose house, these funds should be spent on tightening and insulation for a much better return on investment.

Attic inlets should not be installed in loose poultry houses. In a 40 x 500 poultry house with one 48-inch fan operating and all inlets, doors and openings closed up, if you cannot achieve a static pressure of 0.15 inches your results with attic inlets wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be as good as you 26

January/February 2009

A ir inta k e op e nin g un de r rid g e c a p

C on de ns a ti on dri ps

Issue #1. Installing attic inlets in houses that are not tight.

There seems to be a misconception by many who purchase attic inlets that attic inlets are a silver bullet that alone will solve the problem of high heating bills.

This is not true. In fact, we have observed attic inlets installed in marginally suitable houses, resulting in failure to get full value from the attic air and perhaps making day to day management more difficult.

Before installing attic inlets, be sure there are enough openings into the attic to handle the fans used during attic minimum ventilation. As shown in photos below and at right, most houses have enough open space in the corrugations, bird board openings, and ridge vents to accommodate about two 48-inch fans. If these openings are not adequate you will need to add additional air intake capacity, such as the cupola type vents as shown in above photo.

I s s u e : Co n d e n s a t i o n i n a t t i c One of the worst effects of mismanaging attic air inlets is to allow in-house air to get into the attic through open and unused attic inlets. If for any reason warm moist air from the broiler house comes in contact with cold roof surfaces and insulation, condensation will occur. Over time, this will cause serious damage to the insulation and the house structure. Attic inlets (no matter the brand or type) should always be shut and sealed when no air is being pulled into the house by the fans.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Issue #2. Failing to figure the number of attic inlets correctly.

What is the purpose of the attic inlet system? There are basically three inlet systems in a broiler house that has attic inlets: 1) The attic inlets for cold weather and low air flow (minimum time clock ventilation); 2) the perimeter inlets (side wall or ceiling) for power ventilation; and 3) the tunnel inlet for hot weather, maximum bird cooling. The idea behind attic air inlets is to utilize warmer pre-heated attic air during the first mode of ventilation, shifting to side wall or perimeter inlets during the second mode of ventilation, and then to tunnel inlets during the third mode of ventilation.

In all of these ventilation modes, it is important to get the right airflow cfm, which requires matching air

inlet cfm rating to the fan cfm capacity being used. One of the problems we are seeing is that some people are installing attic inlets using rules of thumb for determining the number of inlets that supposedly will work for any poultry house, no matter what the minimum ventilation fan setup might be. The total cfm capacity rating of installed attic inlets at the static pressure you will be operating at (we suggest 0.10 pressure) must be matched with the cfm ratings of the timer fans that will actually be utilized for minimum ventilation. While we have always recommended that all broiler houses have at least two 36-inch fans (at least one 36-inch fan in each non brood chamber and at least one 36-inch fan in the brood chamber), some United States poultry houses donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any 36-inch fans, and therefore will be running as many as two 48-inch fans through attic inlets.

About 1.0 to 1.5 cfm per sq foot at 0.10 SP is generally a good rule of thumb for calculating minimum ventilation using attic inlets, but there will be quite a bit of difference in the number of attic inlets needed when using two 36-inch fans in comparison to running two 48-inch fans for minimum ventilation. So if you are using a rule of thumb to decide how many attic inlets to install you could make a mistake.

In some poultry houses, we will be satisfied with using only two 36-inch fans for minimum ventilation through attic inlets. Other houses might utilize a 48inch and a 36-inch fan or even two 48s. Regardless, the important point here is you need to know the cfm rating of your minimum ventilation fans that will be pulling air through the attic and install sufficient attic air inlet capacity to match these fans at a 0.10 pressure. If you wish to run at lower pressure with those fans running, you will need more inlets and should get engineering help. We are offering these guidelines as a starting point to prevent problems. In some cases it has been neces-

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Practical Applications sary for a grower to add a 36-inch fan in a location so he could run two 36-inch fans instead of one 36 and one 48, thus reducing his air flow to match the attic inlets which had been installed.

Issue #3. Failing to understand the limitations of the attic as an incoming air source.

In extreme cases, we have had calls from growers that desired to do away with side wall inlets completely and ventilate solely through attic inlets. This has never been the purpose of attic inlets and there are serious problems that could result if this is attempted. The problem is that there is a limit to how much air can be pulled into or through the attic.

Here’s why: In a 40 x 500 x 9 foot poultry house the total amount of air in the house is roughly 180,000 cubic feet (40x500x9 = 180,000 cubic feet). If you calculate the volume of air in the attic of this house, with a 5 in 12 top chord truss pitch, you get roughly 50,000 cubic feet. We have seen little or no problem with running up to 40,000 to 50,000 cfm’s of air in standard broiler houses using the ridge vents, eaves, bird board openings, and corrugation openings as sources for incoming attic air. However, if we choose to pull too high a rate of air flow through the attic, we don’t have enough openings into the attic to replenish the air that is drawn from the attic. The attic air system is meant to temper/heat a small amount of incoming air to provide

warmer ventilation air and reduce relative humidity in the house. Trying to draw all ventilation air through the attic during power ventilation will place excessive static pressure on the ceiling and may cause damage to the ceiling system.

Note: In some poultry houses, depending on construction, there may not be sufficient natural openings into the attic to safely do even minimum ventilation through attic vents. In these houses, adding a provision for additional air intake capacity, such as a cupola along the roof ridge, or adding gable vents, may be needed to be able to use attic air inlets. A good rule of thumb is to estimate the available square footage of all openings into the attic and multiply that number by 500 fpm, which is a good rule of thumb for the maximum air speed that can be drawn into the attic through the ridge vent, bird board cracks and eaves without causing excessive static pressure loss. Your calculated number will then be in cfm and should be at least equal to your timer fan capacity. Example: 80 square feet of open area into the attic times 500 fpm equals 40,000 cfm you can run for minimum ventilation drawing air into the attic.

We don’t think any manufacturer of attic inlet systems would be supportive of total power ventilation through the attic. There are just too many issues that would make this difficult and also have potential to cause damage to the poultry house. Our recommendation is that attic inlets should be utilized only during the first stage of minimum ventilation, if and when heat is needed. When we shift away from timer fans we should shift to sidewall or perimeter inlets.

Issue #4. Believing there is no inlet management required with attic inlets.

A ir Leaks

I s s u e : H o u se t i g h t n e s s In a loose house, fans will pull air in through the attic inlets and through all loose boards, cracks and other openings at the same time. For successful use of attic air inlets, your house should pull a static pressure of at least 0.15 in a pressure test or you won’t get the desired benefit from the attic inlets. As the smoke test shows, the house shown in photo at left needs serious tightening.

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Growers with lots of poultry houses who have installed manual attic inlets have called us and are concerned about the time and effort it takes to open and close inlets as they go through a grow out. Manual inlets are very popular in retrofit broiler houses. Manual inlets also require the most amount of grower intervention. The inlets may be used during pre-heat and may be used during brooding, but at some point in the grow out these inlets need to be closed. But if the weather changes they might need to be opened again, so some decisions must be made with respect to managing the manual inlets. Growers with lots of poultry houses have realized that they would like their attic inlet systems to be actuated in such a way that the controller will make

Alabama Poultry Magazine

the decision when to use the attic inlet system and when to use the perimeter inlet system. Most controller manufacturers now have the software in their products to do this.

Another fact must be remembered regarding attic inlets, whether manual or actuated. There may be times, either before or during the grow out, that you will not want to use all of your attic inlets. Perhaps you might start a grow out with two 36-inch fans, so you would want to match your attic air inlet capacity with the 36inch fans. If your attic air inlet capacity would handle four 36-inch fans, you might want to open more inlets as you turn on more fans.

M a nu a l s hu t-o ffs

We feel that no matter what type or brand of attic inlet system you install, every attic inlet installed either in the brood chamber or in the non brood chambers should be equipped with a manual shut-off device. This will provide flexibility for the future when it may become desirable to shut off specific individual attic inlets. To install an attic inlet (or for that matter a side wall perimeter inlet) with no shut off latch is not a good decision for the long run.

M a nu a l s hu t-o ffs

A final word of caution regarding any type of attic inlet system: Attic inlets must remain closed at all times when air is not being pulled from the attic into the poultry house by the fans. If for any time during a grow out or in between flocks, attic inlets are left open and fans are not being run, the air in the poultry house will move to the attic by the chimney effect. Air, moisture and dust present in the broiler house will contact the roof tin, and attic insulation. The result will be condensation of moisture. This will change the moisture conditions in the attic and attic lumber, which may accelerate the corrosion of roof metal and fasteners, and we believe be detrimental to the poultry house in the long term. If you install and use attic inlets, keep them clean so they seal tightly and be sure they are closed tightly when not in use.

M a nu a l s hu t-o ffs

Looking Ahead

The use of attic inlets as a management tool for poultry growers is gaining acceptance. However, there is still much to learn about the management and the long term effect of these inlet systems on our houses. As growers, equipment representatives and broiler production personnel begin to learn more about these systems and how they are best used, we will monitor developments and provide updated reports of our findings as needed.

Is s ue: Shut -o ff la tch es It is recommended that all inlets, no matter the type or brand, be equipped with manual shut-off latches, as shown in photos above. Growers need to specify that they want manual shutoffs on attic inlets when ordering the inlets. Also, all attic inlets should be kept clean so they will seal tightly when they are not in use.

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Continued from page 8

alcoholism in “You’re Gone,” while “One More Day” has been used by the public as a tribute ever since the events of 9/11. Most of those topics are viewed as a “hard sell” in the business, but Diamond Rio revels in such meaty lyricism, considering it the connective tissue between the band and the listener.

“When we went to record our first album, I probably put a little too much emphasis on it and the thought that we were going to change the world with our music, somebody’s going to hear a song of ours and world peace was going to break out,” Roe laughs. “Over time, you definitely learn that it’s not that way, but every now and then it sure is nice to have a song like an ‘I Believe’ or

a ‘One More Day’ that people take to heart. It might not become a lifechanging event, but it says something that helps them through a tough time.”

Diamond Rio clearly weathered the tough times at the beginning of their journey, and the band has applied a no-nonsense, all-for-one mentality that’s shown itself in both a quiet daring and an admirable consistency. That’s especially obvious with the release of Greatest Hits II, an album that highlights their uniqueness while stretching from that founding hit, “Meet In The Middle,” through their 15-year journey.

The four new titles promise that the journey isn’t over.

Last year, Jake Owen and Kelli Pickler rocked the house. This year at the Evening of Fun, Diamond Rio will blast out the hits. Then dance to the dynamic sounds of the Tip Tops.

These ladies had a great time at last year’s EOF dance. This year’s dance will be just as much fun.

We hope to see you there!

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