AP&EA P.O. 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Address Service Requested
Open For Business! November / December 2012 Vol. 7 No. 6
President’s Messsage
Board of Directors Officers Johnny Adcock, President, Woodland* Randall Ennis, Vice President, Huntsville* Dale Gambrill, Treasurer, Snead* Tim Esslinger, Secretary, Eufaula* Spence Jarnagin, Immediate Past President, Scottsboro* Directors Ronnie Adrian, Collinsville George Attwood, Anniston Chris Carter, Guntersville Fred Cespedes, Hanceville Richard Curvin, Montgomery Cory Early, Albertville Billy Gilley, Cullman Harold Hunt, Gadsden* Heath Loyd, Decatur Dennis Maze, Horton Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Birmingham Mitchell Pate, Auburn Mike Pigg, Cullman John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Kenneth Sanders, Brundidge* Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Gadsden Jack Sherwood, Troy Jason Spann, Hanceville Ken Taylor, Anniston Ben Thompson, Huntsville David Thompson, Ashland Stanley Usery, Athens Scott Varner, Russellville Ricky Walker, Snead Craig Williams, Enterprise Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Perry Oakes, Auburn
I hope that you enjoyed the Christmas season as much as my family did, and that the new year finds you doing well! Christmas is always a special time to spend together with family and friends – it also provides me with a few extra farm hands when my kids are at home. Maricile and I enjoyed attending the grand opening dinner for the new state-of-the-art feed mill at Auburn – the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Feed Mill and Animal Nutrition Building. This will be a tremendous asset for the Auburn University poultry science department, the poultry science students, and the state’s poultry industry. Many people from the university and the poultry industry were there for this exciting time. It was fun to see and hear the enthusiasm from Dr. Batchelor, Dr. Conner, and Mitchell Pate as they expressed gratitude to those involved in helping see this vision through. Alabama Poultry & Egg Association’s annual open house in December is always an enjoyable event. Since the AP&EA building is only two blocks from the capitol, many elected officials drop by for a visit. Johnny Adams and our AP&EA staff do a great job keeping our elected officials informed about the role our poultry industry plays in the state’s economy as well as the effect some laws and restrictions have on the industry. Staying involved in the political arena is essential in today’s world, and is probably the most important part AP&EA plays in our industry. I am looking forward to 2013! May God bless you and your family this next year.
*Executive Committee Members
AP&EA STAFF Johnny Adams – Executive Director Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Membership Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director Alabama Poultry Magazine 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 Magazine 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.
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Featuring This Issue Governmental Affairs
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Association News
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Poultry Industry Workshop
pg. 11
AP&EA Christmas Open House
pg. 13
AP&EA Winter Board Meeting
pg. 14
Auburn Feed Mill Opening
pg. 16
Mitchell Pate is Excited
pg. 19
Association News Briefs
pg. 21
Poultry Industry News
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VIP Profile: EIS and The Vincit Group
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Recipes
pg. 24
Practical Applications
pg. 25
Calendar of Events
pg. 30
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Governmental Affairs Last year, we brought you several articles about this lawsuit and the Hudson family’s struggles against these radical environmental groups and their allies in academia that sought to destroy their farm. They have finally prevailed in court, however, it has cost them dearly, with legal bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. To learn more about the Hudsons, visit www.savefarmfamilies.org.
Eastern Shore Farmers, Perdue Win Pollution Lawsuit Federal judge rules Waterkeeper group failed to make case By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun
Ruling in a bitterly contested case with national ramifications, a federal judge found that the Waterkeeper Alliance failed to prove that an Eastern Shore farm’s chicken houses were polluting a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. U.S. District Court Judge William M. Nickerson declared in a 50-page opinion that the New York-based environmental group had not established in a two-week trial in October that waste from chicken houses owned by Berlin farmers Alan and Kristin Hudson was fouling a drainage ditch that ultimately flows to the Pocomoke River, or that Salisbury-based Perdue could be held liable even if there had been. Though the ditches draining the 350-acre farm in Worcester County were contaminated at the time with high levels of fecal bacteria and nutrients typically found in animal waste, Nickerson wrote that the Waterkeeper group had only shown it was “possible” some of the pollution came from the Hudson’s two chicken houses holding 80,000 birds. The judge indicated he was convinced the contamination came from the farmers’ herd of 45 cows, which evidence showed roamed more or less freely and even deposited waste on the banks of one drainage ditch. The ruling was a vindication for the Hudsons, who had drawn support from farming groups nationwide, and for Perdue, which had been accused in the Waterkeeper lawsuit of sharing
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responsibility for the pollution. Nickerson said that even though there was evidence that Perdue closely monitored and even regulated contract growers like the Hudsons, it was not enough to find that the company controlled the farm and should be forced to share legal responsibility for any pollution that might have been traced to the chicken houses. In fact, he said Perdue deserved to be “commended, not condemned” for a program it has suspended since the Waterkeeper lawsuit seeking to train its growers on how to prevent or minimize pollution from their poultry operations. Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung issued a statement saying that the company was “thrilled” by the judge’s verdict, which she called a “resounding victory for Perdue and farm families everywhere.” Marc Yaggi, executive director of the Waterkeeper Alliance, said in a statement that the group was disappointed by and disagreed with the judge’s verdict. He said the group would review the judge’s opinion and consider an appeal. The ruling comes two years after members of the Waterkeeper Alliance claimed they’d found evidence that poultry manure from the Hudsons’ farm was polluting a drainage ditch there and threatened to sue the couple and Perdue for allegedly violating the federal Clean Water Act. Even though a pile of material seen from an airplane that the group originally claimed was poultry manure was promptly identified as treated sewage sludge, the group went ahead with its lawsuit in March 2010, contending in subsequent filings and testimony that the ditch was polluted by runoff from around the chicken houses, where animal waste was being blown out of the houses by large ventilation fans or
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
tracked out by equipment and shoes. Though the judge said that might be possible, but he was more persuaded by the expert witness called by Perdue’s lawyers, who argued that was unlikely and that the Hudsons’ cows had to be the source of the ditch contamination. Nickerson faulted the Waterkeeper group for not doing any sampling around the Hudsons’ fans and instead relying on studies of other poultry operations to make their case. Perdue’s spokeswoman reiterated what company lawyers had said throughout the case, that the lawsuit represented an unsubstantiated attack on the Hudsons and the company by an environmental group bent on going after the poultry industry. “Perdue and the Hudsons were convenient targets in the Waterkeeper Alliance’s national campaign against modern agriculture,” DeYoung said. “The Assateague Coastal Trust and University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic were enthusiastic partners in this reckless witch-hunt against Maryland farmers,” she added. The trust is a member of the Waterkeeper group, and the university’s clinic represented the group in the case, drawing criticism from farm groups, rural lawmakers and even Gov. Martin O’Malley for their role in the case. Jane Barrett, the clinic’s director, who presented the case at trial, echoed her client in expressing disappointment with the verdict and said she’d be reviewing the judge’s opinion and other aspects of the case for possible appeal. Despite the sweeping verdict for the defendants, the Waterkeeper group and its supporters said they still believe the lawsuit was warranted to highlight how runoff from poorly regulated poultry farms are polluting the bay.
Aderholt New Chmn. of Ag Subcommittee for House Appropriations Committee By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter
Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R) from Kentucky named Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt (R) from Haleyville as the chairman of Agriculture Subcommittee for the House Committee on Appropriations. Rep. Robert Aderholt released a written statement after his appointment. Rep. Aderholt said, “It is a privilege to have been selected to serve as chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee. A number of challenges lay ahead for this Subcommittee in the coming year: from the lack of a longterm Farm Bill, to much needed FDA oversight, to the challenges the Commodities Future Trading Board faces with the uncertainty of newly-imple-
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mented laws and regulations imposed by the administration. It is clear we should have a pretty busy year. Having Rep. Robert Aderholt brought critical oversight and an 8 percent reduction to the Department of Homeland Security’s budget in the last few years, I am up to the challenge and am honored that Chairman Rogers has placed the confidence in me to bring common-sense reform and oversight to the Agriculture Subcommittee.” Chairman Rogers said, “Chairman Aderholt is an essential and hardworking member of our committee, not shying away from holding federal agencies accountable for their spending and making smart decisions on the investment of precious tax dollars. I look forward to
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continuing working with him over the next two years.” Aderholt was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the House Appropriations Committee during the 112th Congress. Agriculture is going to be an especially challenging area in the 113th Congress because a new long-term farm bill was not passed in the 112th Congress. The House passed a new fiveyear farm bill early this year, but in the Senate it was rejected in the Biden-McConnell Fiscal Cliff Bill. The fiscal cliff deal, which was passed into law by the Senate and approved by the House, included a simple nine-month, barebones extension of the 2008 farm bill. An angry Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D) from Michigan said after learning the news that the new farm bill would not be part of the fiscal cliff deal: “There is no way to explain this. None. There is absolutely no way to explain
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Association News
MONTGOMERY – On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, the string of Alabama turkey grower Bill Bates’ consecutive gubernatorial turkey presentations was snapped at 62 due to a medical issue. Mr. Bill is doing fine now – and so is Clyde.
Clyde 63 and his consort, Henrietta, were, however, capably presented by Mr. Bill’s son, Thomas, and daughter, Becky Sloan, to Gov. and Mrs. Bentley on the steps of the mansion in Montgomery. Gov. Bentley, as have previous Alabama governors, pardoned Clyde, citing his conviction for, “being a delicious looking turkey,” but offering the right hand of clemency instead. Clyde gobbled his appreciation for being let off the hook. Henrietta was respectfully quiet, leaving Clyde to do the vocalizing. Gov. and Mrs. Bentley were, however, presented with one of Clyde’s less fortunate brothers, all dressed and ready for a holiday feast. AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams presented First Lady Dianne Bentley with a number of blankets for her “Blankets With a Blessing” program for distributing blankets to those suffering economic hardships or natural disasters. He also presented her a Waterford crystal egg, symbolizing the poultry industry’s appreciation and good wishes for the coming year. We sincerely hope that Mr. Bill will resume his role as ambassador emeritus for the poultry industry next year. Bill, we miss you!
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Lee Energy Solutions sponsored the sporting clays lunch and prizes.
Sporting Clay Winners – Charlie Fox, Clint Lauderdale, Michael Hewell and Josh Bean (not shown)
Golf Winners – Dale Carroll, Wes Cumbie, Donnie Bullard and Mike Walker (not shown)
Cobb-Vantress, Inc. sponsored the golf tournament lunch and prizes.
Pre-Workshop Hospitality Features Big-Shots and Big-Shooters In preparation for the next day’s AP&EA 2012 Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop, poultry pros gathered at the Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center to fellowship and remember the fun from the day of activity. Winning competitors in sporting
clays and golf received thier awards, amid discussions of made and missed shots. The sporting clay tournament was held at the Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club in Montgomery, while the golf tournament was held at the Auburn
Links. The winning shotgunners were the team of Charlie Fox, Clint Lauderdale, Michael Hewell and Josh Bean. The winning links team was Dale Carroll, Wes Cumbie, Donnie Bullard and Mike Walker, all of Lee Energy.
VIP SPONSORS 2012 ALABAMA POULTRY INDUSTRY WORKSHOP Platinum American Proteins, Inc. • ChemStation • D & F Equipment Sales, Inc. First South Farm Credit, N.A. • GSM Steel & Mechanical Contractors International Paper Company • Liberty National Life Insurance
Gold AlaTrade Foods • Aviagen Inc. • Bobcat of Oxford • Chick Master Incubator Company Cobb-Vantress, Inc. • FMC Corporation • Hubbard LLC • K Supply Company, Inc. Marel Stork Poultry Processing • Merck Animal Health • Pfizer Animal Health Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative
Silver Advanced Poultry Equipment and Supply • Alabama Ag Credit • Alabama Farm Credit Alabama Power Company • Alltech • Animal Health International • Burch Corporation CEVA Biomune • Cintas Corporation • Elanco Animal Health • Evonik-Degussa Franklin Industries, Inc. • Ivesco, LLC • Jones-Hamilton Company Merial Select • Randy Jones Insurance Agency • The Vincit Group
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November / December 2012
Alabama Poultry Magazine
2012 Poultry Industry
WORKSHOP
Dr. Bill Batchelor Keynotes 2012 Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop With only 37 crop seasons remaining before 2050 – Will American Agriculture be ready for the challenge? AUBURN – On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, AP&EA’s Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop began with a word of welcome from Association Executive Director Johnny Adams. He began by recognizing contributions to the industry Dr. Gary Lemme, head of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Dr. Bill Batchelor, dean of Auburn University College of Agriculture; and Dr. Don Conner, head of the Auburn department of poultry science. He then introduced Dr. Batchelor. Dr. Batchelor began his topic, Challenges Facing the Global Food System, by talking about the impact and importance of the 106 land-grant colleges on agriculture in America. These land-grant schools are tasked with integrating agricultural education, research and outreach. Auburn is Alabama’s land-grant university. He asked several questions, beginning with, “How much do you eat?” He followed that with the statistic of Americans spending approximately $1.5 trillion on food, or roughly 10 percent of our GDP of $15 trillion. Of that, he reported, we spend 28 billion pounds of beef, 23 billion pounds of pork and 36 billion pounds of chicken. Each person in America eats about 4.7 pounds of food a day. On average, both in America and the rest of the world, one-third of the food produced is wasted. In America
and other wealthy nations, it is wasted on the consumer end. In developing nations it is wasted on the producer end. “How do you eat?” was the next question. He pointed out that in this country there are 36,000 supermarkets. Each of those supermarkets has 38,000 different products, with 10,000 new products a year coming from producers. There are also 54,000 non-traditional grocery stores and 152,000 convenience stores. Today, more than half of our meals are eaten in almost a million restaurants. These are dramatic changes from the way we ate in the ‘60s and ‘70s. We have seen dramatic developments in the global food system since World War II. It has become highly complex and integrated. Prior to World War II, most of our food came from local sources and if there was a problem in the food system, it could be addressed locally. We did import and export raw materials, but the further processing was always close to the markets. The end of World War II saw the rise of globalization and the birth of the modern food system. Companies sought to control costs by controlling a larger portion of the food system process. Technology in refrigerated shipping and transportation aided this growth. Batchelor presented several challenges facing the global food system.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Food Quantity In 2011, the world population was estimated at 7 billion. It is projected to rise to 9 billion by 2050. In Batchelor’s frame of reference, just 37 crop seasons. Today the global middle class is estimated to be 1 billion, in 2050, that number could rise to 3 billion. Demand for meat has tripled in the last few decades and it will only increase with the growth of middle classes. Perhaps the most compelling statistic presented was that food demand is rising by 2 percent each year, while food production is rising by only 1 percent annually. This has caused a dramatic rise in the global price of food. While in America, the percentage of what we pay for food is about 10 to 12 percent of our income, in other less affluent countries, the cost can go as high as 75 percent. Batchelor sees high food prices as being one of the sparks that ignited the recent crisis in the Middle East, known as the Arab Spring. Food Quality and Safety With growing numbers of people with Internet access and access to other areas of mass communication, it is becoming more and more difficult to hide problems in the food system. Consumers are becoming more informed and demanding, and the poultry industry is vulnerable to microbial food contamination and criticism of misuses of food additives. Our science tells us that
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2012 Poultry Industry
WORKSHOP
John “Rat” Riley
John Putnam
Dr. Steve Fitz-Coy
Tommy Walker
Dr. Susan Watkins
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our food is safe, however, one negative report on a Web site or in a chat room can hang around for years. Perception often trumps reality. The food system also plays a role in public health. In Alabama 35.7 percent of the population is obese, while 8 percent have diabetes. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of the food system on health-related issues, and they are looking for someone to blame for these health issues. Food Security A definition of food security would be sufficient food availability and the resources available to obtain it. Around the world today, there are 1 billion people who are malnourished. Each day approximately 25,000 die of starvation. This is not just a third world issue. In American, in both rural and urban settings there are food deserts, places without ready access to large grocery stores that offer fresh and affordable foods needed to maintain a healthy diet. Instead of such stores, these areas may only have fast food restaurants and convenience stores. It is these food deserts that are seen as areas fostering obesity and diabetes. Ag Research and Leadership According to Dr. Batchelor, there are only 12,000 ag research scientists worldwide, with funding of $23 billion for research compared to over $1.5 trillion spent annually on munitions. At Auburn University’s College of Agriculture the budget has seen a $5 million cut since 2008, down to $28.6 million. He is very appreciative of industries partnering with the college in projects like the feed mill. Auburn enrollment is capped at 25,000 students. Incoming students, on average, come from urban homes with a household incomes of $250,000. Increased ACT score requirements make it more difficult for students from rural schools to compete with students from schools with higher funding and ad-
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vanced placement courses. Those who do tend to gravitate toward majors in engineering or veterinary medicine. This makes recruiting agriculture students more difficult. Dr. Batchelor’s presentation was thought provoking and informative. It certainly put in perspective the role that the Alabama poultry industry has to play in feeding the world in the coming decades. Following Dr. Batchelor, nationally recognized motivational speaker John “Rat” Riley spoke on Overcoming Mistakes From Your Past. After a short break, John Putnam, territory sales manager for Alltech, echoed many of the points made by Dean Batchelor in a presentation titled “Feeding the World.” He was followed by Bailey Ragan, vice president for grain, biofuels and fertilizer with Bunge, North America who presented a grain forecast, leading up to lunch. After lunch, provided by American Proteins and D&F Equipment Sales, the workshop divided into the Production Session, in Ballroom A, and the Processing Session in Meeting Room I. In the Processing Session, presided over by Tim Esslinger, David Eskew, president of the CPI Consulting Group, discussed adapting the Six Sigma process improvement tools, made famous by Jack Welch at General Electric in 1995, to the food industry. He was followed by Gretchen Nagel of the Auburn poultry science department who spoke on pathogen control. In a real change of pace, she was followed by Terry Gray, president of First Response, Inc., with a presentation titled Workplace Violence: Today’s Volatile Business Environment. Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Supply was the topic of Staffan Ankerstrom, Ameresco Intelligent Systems. He was followed by Mitch Hamm, center director of Alabama Technology Network, who spoke on Innovation in the Workforce, ending the session.
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DECEMBER 6, 2012 – Alabama poultry pros gathered with friends of Alabama poultry in government, education, extension and the private sector to share the warm fellowship of the holidays at AP&EA headquarters. The room, as last year, was tastefully decorated by Kim Adams, wife of AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams. The holiday food was plentiful and delicious. Notable elected officials included State Treasurer Young Boozer; Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh; Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Beth Kellum plus a number of state senators and representatives, as well as representatives of regulatory agencies. It was a great opportunity for old friends to reconnect and a time to make new friends as well.
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Winter Board Meeting
DECEMBER 7 – AP&EA President Johnny Adcock opened the last board meeting of 2012, by thanking the staff for their support. In his opening remarks, he touched on the subject of corn prices and expressed hope that they would soon be under control, so, as he said, “we can get back to making some money, growing and processing chickens.” He also acknowledged AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams and AP&EA Membership Director Ray Hilburn, for their efforts in meeting with NRCS several times to expedite the approval process for ADEM-mandated CAFO nutrient management plans. Richard Lusk, chairman of the Allied Industry Committee reported the establishment of an Allied Scholarship at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, as a part of the “2+2” cooperative program with Auburn’s poultry science department. He reported that they are ready to begin accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2013 semester. The “2+2” program is important because it helps poultry science students from rural school systems, who might not be able to qualify academically for admittance to Auburn as freshmen, take basic poultry science courses at Wallace State, and enter Auburn as juniors to finish a poultry science degree. Grower Committee Chairman Kenneth Sanders reported on the series of grower seminars that were held in October. He expressed some disappointment that attendance for the programs had been less than expected in several venues, even though they were excellent programs. The Auburn Relations Committee
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Chairman Roddy Sanders reported that the committee had been working with Dr. Don Connor, head of the Auburn poultry science department, on developing a survey to be sent out to poultry complex managers, live production managers, processing plant managers, feed mill managers, hatchery managers and human resources managers to critique the job performance of Auburn poultry science graduates for the previous 10 years. The survey will be going out in early 2013, and they are hoping for a good response. It will go a long way in helping the department tailor programs and courses to better serve the needs of the industry. State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier, in his advisory report, stated that the avian influenza response plan had been submitted to USDA for approval, meeting the requirement that it be submitted by the first of 2013. Once approved, Alabama growers will be eligible for indemnity payments in the event of a AI outbreak, whether high-path or lowpath. He reported that he had recently visited Tennessee and observed, along with a number of growers and processors, a tabletop exercise of the Tennessee AI response plan. His goal is to have a similar exercise here in Alabama. He also reported that the search for a replacement for Dr. Fred Hoerr at the state diagnostic lab was again active, after having been put on hold by the budget crunch. He said that they were looking at several outstanding candidates. Jim Donald, of the National Poultry Technology Center, presented the biosystems engineering advisory report
Alabama Poultry Magazine
with a rundown of the research activities and presentations that the group had made during the year. He also invited the board to stay after the meeting for a presentation on solar energy engineering by the Redstone Energy Group of Huntsville. Dr. Don Connor, in the poultry science advisory report, thanked the Association for its participation in bringing the feed mill project to fruition. Now, with the incorporation of the department of food science into the department of poultry science, with its emphasis on live production and processing, he stated, “We now have the opportunity to build a comprehensive farm to fork program.” Dr. Connor announced the induction of Dr. Bob Brewer into the Auburn Ag Alumni Hall of Fame in January. Dr. Joe Hess presented the Alabama Cooperative Extension System advisory report. He reported that there were a number of poultry-related projects that ACES was working on. One ongoing project is working with litter amendments as a part of a broader waste management program. The Environmental Science report was presented by Perry Oakes of NRCS. He reported that Alabama’s nutrient management plan was undergoing revision. AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams thanked Dr. Gary Lemme for his good work as director of ACES. He also reported that legislatively, there might be some funding challenges ahead for the CAFO program. He concluded his remarks by thanking Johnny Adcock for his leadership, especially on the Koch Foods expansion and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
AUBURN — Auburn University’s new $7.1 million Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center, a state-of-the-art academic and research feed production facility located on a 50-acre site north of the main campus, officially opened Friday, Nov. 16, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by university administrators and representatives of the poultry and feed mill industries. “The new Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center at Auburn is the result of a great partnership between the university and agribusiness,” Auburn President Jay Gogue said. The feed mill has had strong industry support since plans began taking
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shape in early 2008, when a technical advisory committee that included poultry nutritionists and feed mill personnel was formed to provide input on the facility’s design and equipment. Thus far, more than 40 corporations have donated to the facility, including $750,000 in equipment. The feed mill opens as the nation observes the 150th anniversary of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Act, which established a system of public universities to provide practical educations to the sons and daughters of America’s working class. Auburn and the more than 100 other land-grant universities nationwide have a three-fold mission of teaching,
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research and outreach. Auburn officials say the Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center is poised to enhance programs in all three areas. Housed inside a 12,500-square-foot steel building, the new feed mill is comprised of nine prefabricated modules, each 40 feet long by 8 feet wide by 9 feet and 6 inches high, that were manufactured in Minnesota, trucked 1,100plus miles to Auburn on nine flatbed trailers and then assembled on site in stacks of three. The modular design is “a smallscale adaptation of a commercial megafacility” and is ideal for teaching, said Dr. Don Conner, head of the department
try is demanding.” The feed mill, in fact, will be operated primarily by students, as part of the poultry science curriculum. “We’re in the process of putting together an introduction-to-feed-milling course, and we’re going to move labs in some of our existing courses out here as well,” Conner said. “We also are going to develop more aggressive courses that eventually will be part of a degree program in feed mill management.” That’s good news to Auburn poultry science alum Mitchell Pate, who headed Sylvest Farms Inc.’s feed milling division in Montgomery for 16 years before returning to Auburn in 2006 as director of the Poultry Research Unit. “The industry is losing feed mill managers; we need the next generation,” Pate said. “I am very excited about the nutrition center and the impact it will have on the poultry industry and on Auburn University.” As director, Pate also is overseeing the move of the feed mill – and, subse-
of poultry science at Auburn and the driving force in moving the feed mill from an idea to reality. “Students can come in here and stand in one place and see every step of the milling process and how all the pieces work together,” Conner said. “Students want and need hands-on, real-world experience, and they’re going to get that here. “One of our department’s key missions is to serve the industry, and producing outstanding employees is one of the ways we do that,” Conner said. “The experience students get working and learning at the feed mill will equip them with the knowledge and skills the indus-
quently, the poultry research unit’s poultry houses and processing plant – to the north Auburn campus from South College Street, where the facilities have been located for almost four decades. That property abuts what is now the Auburn Research Park, and Auburn’s master land-use plans call for the feed mill, poultry houses and processing plant that comprise the research unit to be relocated to the north Auburn campus, which is home to several Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station programs, including the department of fisheries and allied aquacultures’ 1,600-acre E.W. Shell Fisheries Center. The feed mill is the first poultry science building at north Auburn. But the old feed mill was well past its prime, Conner said. “It served us very well, but it is so outdated now that it had become ineffective for teaching purposes,” Conner said. “Research has been extremely limited at the old location, too. The new feed mill will be a huge jump for nutrition research at Auburn.”
With scissors in hand – (left to right) – Johnny Adams, Randall Ennis, Dr. Bill Batchelor, Dr. Don Conner, William McLean, Jimmy Sanford and Dr. Jay Gogue prepare to cut the ribbon opening Auburn’s new $7.1 million Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center.
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Research is where the new facility’s scalability is especially crucial. Patterned after California Polytechnic State University’s Animal Nutrition Center, which Hopkins, Minn.-based T.E. Ibberson Company designed and built in 2008, Auburn’s Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center is built to scale and is scalable by factors of five, 10, 12 and 15. That will allow research conducted at the feed mill to be translated for any size commercial feed mill. And there is an urgent and growing need for advanced research in animal nutrition. “In Alabama and globally, the agriculture sectors face daunting challenges in the future, and as demands on our resources continue to soar, animal nutrition will become a huge global issue,” Auburn College of Agriculture Dean and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Director Bill Batchelor said. “The feed-milling industry will be more essential than ever, as the need for feeds that optimize poultry, livestock and fish production increase.” Auburn research will focus on getting as much nutritional value out of feed as possible, not only for poultry but other agriculturally important animals. And feed produced at the facility will be used as food for the university’s 20,000-bird research flock and livestock research animals. In addition to Auburn scientists, researchers from private corporations will be allowed to contract use of the feed mill for some projects. Conner said the feed mill also will be used to host continuing education workshops and short courses for people in the industry. In addition to Conner, Gogue and Batchelor, others participating in the opening ceremony were Auburn Board of Trustees member Jimmy Sanford; Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Executive Director Johnny Adams; Randall Ennis of Huntsville, an Auburn poultry science alumnus and CEO of Aviagen Inc., the world’s premier poultry breeding company; and William McLean of Laurel, Miss., CEO of The Essmueller Company, a leading manufacturer of feed mill equipment.
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The Wall of Honor (above), with it’s interactive display, shows plaques honoring the corporate sponsors that have contributed to the feed mill’s development. Room has been left for the additional sponsorships that will be required to finally move the poultry farm to the new location. Below is a concept drawing of the plan to develop the new poultry farm.
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Mitchell Pate had been running the Sylvest hatchery in Luverne for just over a year when Harold Sylvest called him. Sylvest told Pate to meet him at the company’s feed mill in Hope Hull. Outside the feed mill, Pate was informed by Sylvest, “This is yours.” Mitchell Pate was astounded. Just six years out of Auburn, five of which had been spent working in production with Gerald Bailey at Gold Kist in Cullman, he had never even been inside a feed mill. He knew absolutely nothing about feed mill operations. Fortunately, he had good people working with him and learned quickly. Over the next 18 years he increased his understanding of efficient feed mill operations. In 2006, with the retirement of George Hall, Mitchell was approached to apply for the position of manager of the Auburn poultry farm, with the title of director of poultry research and extension center. He was interested, but he wasn’t sure how his wife, Beth, would react. He had nothing to worry about.
Beth was excited about the possibility of going back to Auburn. She strongly urged him to apply for the position. He applied, went through the vetting process and was hired. This was not the first time that Beth had pushed him toward Auburn. Mitchell had grown up on a pullet farm in Lowndesboro. He and Beth had met in the first grade and were high school sweethearts. After graduation, they went their separate ways for a short while. It was during that interim, Mitchell went to work in the Sylvest processing plant. He had been working there for three years when, now with Beth as his wife, she and Maynard Sylvest began pushing Mitchell to go to Auburn and get a degree. That’s the kind of pressure a guy can’t resist. So, as Mitchell says, they “packed up their little car and headed up I-85,” and he went to college. In 1985, six weeks before graduation with a degree in poultry husbandry from Auburn, Mitchell called Maynard
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Sylvest to tell him that he was about to graduate and ready to come back to work. Sylvest congratulated him on his academic success and informed him that there were no jobs available. Dr. Bob Brewer came to his aid and introduced him to Gerald Bailey, who offered Mitchell a job. So, just after graduation, he and Beth packed up again and headed to Cullman. Today, they are happy to be back in Auburn. Beth works as a registered nurse with the medical clinic at Auburn. Both of their children graduated from Auburn University. Their son, Mitch, lives in Auburn and works for the National Center for Asphalt Technology at the university. Their daughter, Susanna, is married to a poultry science graduate, Mitchell Hunter, and they live in Eufaula. But, for Mitchell, there have been some frustrations. When he first took the position it was with the purpose of moving the poultry farm to the new property. However, with the downturn in the economy, that project was put on the back burner.
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Mitchell and Beth have been married for 31 years. Mitchell calls her “his inspiration.” Beth, who had already graduated from Troy State University with a degree in nursing before she and Mitchell married, believed that the small town boy from Lowndesboro could do big things.
He was tasked with keeping the aging facility running for a new generation of poultry science students. In 2008, it was determined that the old feed mill was beyond repair. Plans were put in place to begin the laborious process of designing, funding and constructing a new state-of-the-art facility that could serve to educate students on animal nutrition and provide research services for the poultry industry. Mitchell is excited about the new facility. “With feed currently accounting for 75 percent of the cost of producing chickens, the new feed mill is going to help develop better ways to produce feeds that make it cheaper to produce animals, to decrease the cost per pound.” He continues, “It will allow companies to bring in their feed additives, for a negotiated fee, for small scale testing efficiently. This will allow testing of these feed additives on small flocks to better gauge the results, before a company makes a major investment.” He is also excited about the opportunities for students to learn about the feed milling process, so, one day, no one will face the boss handing them the keys to something that they’ve never
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seen before, like a feed mill. Now with two locations to oversee, he is also looking forward to the day when the Auburn poultry farm and processing facility can finally relocate to the North Auburn campus with the feed mill. That may be a few years in the future, but it’s a lot closer now than it has been.
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An avid, but inconsistent, golfer, Mitchell says, “Whoever I play with has to have a good sense of humor.” He hasn’t had time for golf in the last year because of work on the feed mill. With that finished, maybe he can get back to the links.
Association News Briefs Auburn Ag Grad Brunch Honors Seniors DECEMBER 8, 2012 – College of Agriculture Fall semester graduating students were honored, along with their families, at the brunch, sponsored by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association at the ALFA Pavilion. The AU Ag Alumni Association and the College of Agriculture hosted this event to familiarize graduating seniors and their parents with the Alumni Association. Although there were only two poultry science Fall graduates, the poultry science department was well represented as instructors and extension specialists took turns at the omelet pans.
Former Alabama Poultry Farm Families of the Year saw kids graduate. Dorman and Susan Grace (left) and their son, Cade; and Eddie and Lorrie Kilcrease (right) and their son, Ethan – Congratulations!
Biddie Hilburn Welcomes First Grand-Biddie Ray “Biddie” Hilburn, AP&EA membership director, has reason to crow about the latest addition to his family’s membership roles. Miss Natalee Jane Hilburn came into the world on Nov. 20, 2012. She weighed in at a healthy but sleek seven pounds, and stretched the tape to 19.75 inches. This little chick is the daughter of Ray’s son, Christopher and Christopher’s wife, Nikki, of Rutledge. Christopher has his own business, Triple H Enterprises, and is in the process of building three broiler houses for Wayne Farms of Troy. Nikki is a registered nurse in Luverne. She is also working to become a nurse practitioner. Beautiful little Natalee Jane looks so peaceful here. She just doesn’t realize yet that she’s going to grow up Hilburn. That’s probably not so bad.
Sammy Dennis Retires From Wayne Farms ENTERPRISE – Sammy Dennis has worn a lot of hats in his career. He’s been a helicopter mechanic; sold lumber and building supplies; plowed behind a mule (as a kid); he’s been a star baseball player (even had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates); but his most enduring role has been as a poultryman. Sammy built his first two houses in 1968 for Tony Harrell. He built two more in 1972 for ConAgra. He had a full-time job working with a local building supply company when Dr. Dwight Bond hired him to manage the ConAgra hatchery. He knew nothing about the hatchery business, but Dr. Bond trained him, even sending him to work for a month with Henry Hilburn in Luverne. He ran the hatchery until 1977. That same year, Southland Poultry was formed by Ned Harrell, and Sammy went to work with him as breeder hatchery manager. Billy Paul Watkins was in charge of the broiler department and Benny Bishop was hired to build a processing plant. Everything was built from scratch. In 1982, Harrell sent Sammy to run the Harrell feed mill, which was in such bad shape that he had to have it overhauled. Ten years later, he was moved to live production manager, which is where he was working when Southland was sold to Wayne Farms in 1995. He worked as breeder hatchery manager for Wayne Farms covering both Enterprise and Troy for several years. Wanting to scale back his activities, he took a position with the company as a field rep. in 2004, retiring in November of 2012.
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Sammy and his wife, June, have a beautiful home and a cozy cabin on a private lake. “Chickens built all of this,” Sammy says. They still operate their four poultry houses. One of their great pleasures is traveling to see their grandson play baseball.
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Poultry Industry News
Perdue Sells Dothan Plant to Wayne Farms SALISBURY, Md. – Perdue Farms announced the company has sold its Dothan-based chicken processing facility to Wayne Farms LLC. The sale includes the Dothan processing plant, hatchery and a feed mill and grow-out office in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. Perdue said the company will continue to operate a hatchery in Samson, Ala., to support a processing plant in Perry, Ga. Officials with Perdue said the closing will not affect the company’s breeder operations in Florida and Alabama. The sale is in line with Perdue’s strategy to expand the company’s premium branded and value-added products which include all-vegetarian-fed chicken within the Perdue brand. Perdue also has new lines of prepared products, plus antibiotic-free chicken, turkey and pork and, most recently, organic chicken. “The Perdue brand is the numberone brand of fresh chicken in the United States,” said Jim Leighton, president, Perdue Foods. “Over the past two years, we’ve expanded distribution of our branded products across the United States, and we’ve also become the leader in both antibiotic-free and organic chicken. “We are actively pursuing a strategy to elevate our products and brands and to build relationships with customers who recognize the value of those brands and the trust in the Perdue name,” Leighton said. The Dothan facility primarily supplies commodity-based products. Perdue plans to consolidate branded and value-added production from Dothan into existing capacity at other Perdue facilities, especially those with lower grain transportation costs and all-vegetarian-fed programs, the company said. The sale will not affect Perdue’s customers. “While the Dothan plant no longer fits our strategies, I’m pleased Wayne Farms will be able to utilize the plant and especially pleased that they intend
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to keep all the employees and grower contracts,” Leighton said. “Wayne Farms is a leader in business-to-business sales and Dothan’s capabilities are a good fit. “The pending sale is a win for both companies, the employees, the growers and the Dothan community,” he added. Wayne Farms is the fifth largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the United States with annual sales of more than $1.4 billion, according to the com-
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
pany’s Web site. The company operates 10 fresh and further-processed poultry facilities throughout the Southeastern United Sttes, and produces more than 1.8 billion pounds of poultry products annually. The company employs 8,900 people across eight complexes. Wayne Farms fresh plants are in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia. The company’s two further processing plants are in Decatur, Ala.
VIP Industry Profile
Newest EIS Facility Holds Open House GERALDINE – On Nov. 7, 2012, EIS, a division of The Vincit Group, and headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., held an open house in their newest fabricating facility. This shop will produce custom fabrication in both stainless and carbon steel. EIS, founded in 1993, has supported the poultry processing industry with high quality custom fabricated stainless steel poultry handling equipment and conveyor systems. This new facility will bring their unique capabilities closer to the processing plants in north Alabama. The impressive facility has bead blasting capabilities as well as a custom paint shop. Computer controlled precision plasma cutting is state-of-the-art. The Vincit Group has long been closely allied with the Alabama poultry industry. The Vincit Group is comprised of nine member companies to providing complete solutions to food safety sanitation, water and energy management. The Vincit Group companies are: QSI providing contract plant sanitation services to ensure brand protection and helps companies gain the confidence of the USDA. TCS provides contract cooling tower cleaning services that ensure optimal capacity utilization of energy resources. ITG and EIS provide highly specialized design-build engineering, demolition, and equipment installation services.
Zee Company manufactures and distributes speciality cleaning products, disinfectants, sanitizers, supporting supplies and technology systems. Aqua Z offers technologically advanced products that make a difference to both the environment and to the customer’s bottom line. Numark automates many of the processes involved with sanitation to provide consistency in the cleaning and sanitiz- Eric Killen, director of sales national accounts, is justifiably ing processes, improving proud of the high quality workmanship produced by EIS. the bottom-line by reducing labor and utility costs. Pro Logistics provides swift delivery and picks up empty containers to eliminate compliance concerns. The group’s goal is to provided superior products and equipment to the food processing industry. They are firmly committed to providing unparalleled service and the best quality of product available. They are dedicated to the development of the best programs and services to keep their business partners competitive and profitable.
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Recipes
Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick with the Incredible Edible Egg Healthful living takes center stage as 2013 arrives, so keep your resolutions on track with easy-to-prepare and good-for-you egg recipes. High-quality protein, found in foods like eggs, is the secret to staying fuller longer, helping people trim calories and their waist lines. Protein at all meals, especially breakfast, can help Americans stay on track with the quintessential New Year’s resolution: to live healthier. In fact, several studies have shown that 25-30 grams of high-quality protein eaten at each meal may be best when it comes to maintaining healthy muscles and bones for adults. And eggs are quick and easy to prepare. Countless egg-packed recipes only take 15 minutes of prep time for under 300 calories per serving.
Southwestern Omelet Roll Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 18 minutes Makes: 8 servings
WHAT YOU NEED
10 1/4 1/2 1 3/4 1 1
Nonstick cooking spray large eggs cup all-purpose flour cup fat free half-and-half cup chopped red bell pepper cup chopped green onions cup chopped lean ham, divided teaspoon dried cilantro
1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1-1/2 cups chunky mild salsa 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream, optional Fresh cilantro
HERE’S HOW PREHEAT oven to 375°F. COAT a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray. CUT a piece of parchment paper to fit pan, leaving paper to extend over sides slightly. SPRAY paper with cooking spray; set pan aside. BEAT eggs with a wire whisk in medium bowl. COMBINE flour and half-and-half in small bowl. ADD flour mixture to eggs, mixing until smooth. STIR in pepper, onions, 1/2 cup of the ham and seasonings. POUR mixture into prepared pan. BAKE 15 minutes. REMOVE pan from oven. SPRINKLE with remaining 1/2 cup ham and cheese. Return to oven and BAKE 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. REMOVE pan from oven. Carefully ROLL baked egg mixture, beginning at the short end, peeling paper off as mixture is rolled. CUT roll into 8 even slices. LAYER slices at an angle on serving plate. SPOON salsa over slices. Top each serving with sour cream and cilantro, if desired. For a spicier version, use medium salsa. INSIDER INFORMATION Substitute cooked drained crumbled turkey sausage for the lean ham.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
California Scramble Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Makes: 6 servings
WHAT YOU NEED
6 1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
HERE’S HOW
Nonstick cooking spray large eggs avocado, pitted, peeled, chopped cup cooked crumbled turkey bacon (6 slices) cup chopped tomato cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese cup chopped green onions
SPRAY large skillet with cooking spray. BEAT eggs with a wire whisk in medium bowl. POUR eggs into skillet. COOK on medium heat, gently drawing mixture across bottom and sides of pan forming large curds, until eggs are thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. SPOON eggs into serving bowl. PLACE avocado, bacon, tomato, cheese and onions in sections on top of eggs. INSIDER INFORMATION Substitute Monterey Jack cheese for the Cheddar, and red onions for the green.
Easy As Pie Crab Quiche Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Makes: 6 servings
WHAT YOU NEED Nonstick cooking spray 6 large eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk baking mix 3/4 cup fat free half-and-half 2 cans (6 ounces each) crab meat, well drained 1 cup crisp-tender cooked fresh asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1 1/2 1/8
cup shredded Swiss cheese tablespoon dried minced onions teaspoon salt teaspoon ground black pepper
HERE’S HOW PREHEAT oven to 350°F. SPRAY a 9-inch deep dish pie plate with cooking spray; set aside. BEAT eggs with a wire whisk in medium bowl. COMBINE baking mix and half-and-half in a small bowl. ADD flour mixture to eggs, mixing until smooth. STIR in crab, asparagus, cheese and seasonings. POUR mixture into prepared pie plate. BAKE 45 to 50 minutes or until center is set. COOL on wire rack 15 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve. INSIDER INFORMATION Substitute canned white tuna for the crab, and Cheddar cheese for the Swiss.
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Practical Applications
Paw Burns in Broiler Chickens: Litter Moisture is the Culprit S. F. Bilgili and J. B. Hess – Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
On an annual basis, about 9 billion broilers are grown and transformed into a variety of “value-added” products in the United States (over a billion in Alabama alone). Broiler meat products continue to enjoy relative advantages in value, convenience, and wholesomeness when compared to other animal protein sources, However, social responsibility (i.e., animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and others) has become an important marketing trait for the “high-value” products as the customer/consumer expectations continue to evolve in the marketplace. The poultry industry enjoys a sizable and profitable export market for processed and frozen chicken feet (paws). The incidence and severity of dermatitis (burns) that occur on the foot pads of broiler chickens is of great concern to the broiler industry, not only from product quality but also from animal welfare standpoints. The occurrence of paw burns is now widely used as an objective criteria in welfare assessment of poultry production systems in both Europe and the United States. Research conducted at Auburn University showed that contact with moisture is the main culprit inducing paw burns in broiler chickens. Broiler chicks are especially vulnerable during the first two weeks, as the skin covering the foot is susceptible to water-induced damage to the outer layers of the skin. Research also demonstrated that 4-6 hours of daily contact with high moisture levels was sufficient to trigger contact dermatitis in young broilers. Even when the litter appears dry and fluffy in the middle of a house, it is not uncommon to see a 2-3 feet wide band of high moisture area along the feeder and drinker lines or wet spots under the drinkers. So, it is highly probable that chicks may make contact with the wet areas long enough in duration during their daily feeding and drinking activities to trigger the dermatitis. The good news is that paw burns do heal given time and improvements in litter conditions. Also, it is extremely difficult to induce paw burns later in the grow-out, once the skin covering the footpads have matured. Birds spend most of their life in close association with the bedding/litter material. Hence, the most obvious contributor to paw burns is the irritation from poor quality bedding material (type, quantity, particle size, and moisture level). Chickens continuously peck on, scratch and hence work the bedding/litter in the house. This natural behavior helps in the aeration of the litter and breaks down large clumps. However, using bedding materials of large particle size (wood chips
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November / December 2012
rather than saw dust), successive flocks on used litter, and excessive litter/house moisture results in caking of the litter and less working up of the litter by the birds. Good litter management is an important goal in broiler production, often influenced by complex interactions of type of bedding material used, frequency of clean-out, market weight, brooding practices, ventilation system and operation, and drinker type/management. As birds grow, increas-
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Continued on pg. 30
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
By: Jess Campbell, Dennis Brothers, Gene Simpson & Jim Donald – National Poultry Technology Center – Auburn University College of Agriculture
Maintaining an adequate water supply is a “must have” when it comes to operating a successful poultry operation. It doesn’t take an expert to identify a water supply problem in a control room if you know what to look for. Each component in the plumbing system is installed to do a specific job, however if these components are neglected they often do more harm than good. Every poultry grower should check his plumbing system components on a regular basis, regardless of the age of the farm. We sometimes find problems on newer farms, as well as on older farms. The following 5 basic items should be checked on a routine basis, and also if a noticeable decrease in bird performance is seen. Other items may need to be considered when troubleshooting a water restriction on a poultry farm. These S ER are the 5 most common problems that restrict drinking #1 – FILT water.
#2 – PRE SSURE RE GULATO RS
water y cause of insufficient ar im pr e th ten of e ar Filters ter apr systems. If a water fil g supply to nipple drinke it is already restrictin ed ul fo or d ge og cl be pears to ross the Water pressure drop ac s. rd bi e th to w flo ter wa through ked at maximum flow Pressure regulator filter(s) should be chec e lights come th as st ju s must be e, pl m am u ex r m fo , . m W ste sy r che a ke te in r impuriti the dr The oc y. da t ho a on es and sig cked every year at ck flo e th c in u e r lat in or ng n minithe supp ificant min on in the morni the and eral build h the filter the lower cause wate ly side around the ug ro th u w p flo r te can wa e sc r restrictio lower th a good ide n during p reen in the regulato . ter fil e th a ss to ro eriods of h r install unio pressure drop ac it can be e igh flow. ns on bo a sily inspe cte
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November / December 2012
Alabama Poultry Magazine
d without
It is th sides of the regula tor so cutting th e lines.
#4 – M E
#3 – MEDICATORS
Medicators must be checked and inspected for proper flow each time they are used. If the medicator is restricting the water flow then it is likely that not all birds are receiving the treatment. Medicators must be cleaned and flushed before and after each use per manufacturer recommendations.
#5 – DROP HOSES
TERS
Meters m noticea ust be checked b le d e c rease in at least once collect per y wat on Installin the supply sid er consumptio ear for any n. eo g make in unions on bot f the meter res Debris can h spection tr s easier sides of the m icting flow. . eter wil l help
Modern poultry houses consume large quantities of water, especially in hot weather with large birds. It is a good idea that all water supply components be checked on a yearly basis to make sure there is adequate water supply to each house on the farm. Consult your local plumber or one of our team members at the NPTC for more information on testing farm systems for adequate supply.
G90 STEEL ROOFING 29GA X 36” COVER s and ked prior to placing chick Drop hoses must be chec overwater supply cannot be nt cie ffi su In . ely in ut ro then hose. e long to inspect a drop looked and it doesn’t tak t floating at 8 a.m. doesn’ be ht ig m ll ba e th e us Just beca 6 a.m. en the lights came on at wh ng ati flo s wa it n ea m ameter ed and drink. Small di as the birds began to fe a restriction. drop hoses can also be
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Paw Burns .... Continued from pg. 26 ing amounts of moisture are cycled through the litter. Modern-day broiler chickens grow fast, because they eat and drink more, and what goes in must eventually come out. High rates of water consumption increase litter moisture as well as house relative humidity. The litter acts as a “temporary sponge” on the floor to limit bird contact with feces and water. Ventilation is the only mean to remove moisture from the house and litter. The design and operation of the ventilation system is extremely critical in keeping this sponge functional. By proper mixing (warming) of incoming air the moisture holding (and removal) capacity of air can be enhanced dramatically (i.e., for every 20F increase in temperature, the moisture holding capacity is of air doubled!). Coupled with proper minimum ventilation rate, this moisture-laden air is then continuously exhausted to maintain a dry house (Goal: <70 percent RH). The ventilation programs are always constrained by high cost of energy to heat the house, as well as additional moisture input into the house through environmental extremes (condensation in winter and evaporative cooling/fogging in summer). Of course, any factor that increases water consumption (i.e., high stocking densities; ingestion of high levels of sodium, potassium, or
magnesium via feed and/or water; mycotoxins) or elimination (flushing and diarrhea due to intestinal health issues) will add to the wet litter problem in the house. In many parts of the world, broilers are being raised in raised slats, wired or plastic flooring. In these types of production systems, whereby direct contact with feces and wet litter is eliminated, no paw burns are observed. We have confirmed these results at Auburn by rearing broiler chickens on plastic-coated wire floors. With the importance now placed on paw quality from an animal welfare standpoint, house litter and ventilation management should be an even more important topic for growers and industry personnel than in the past.
Aderholdt .... Continued from pg. 6
Poultry Industry Workshop Continued from pg. 12
this other than agriculture is just not a priority.” The 113th Congress is going to have to deal with the sequestration crisis in 60 days and whether or not to reduce the deficit as part of a condition for raising the debt ceiling in March. Both of those issues will impact the new long-term farm bill. Congress will have to decide whether to extend the 2008 farm bill to 2014, pass some version of the 2012 farm bill, or start over on the farm bill from scratch and send it back to Committee. Rep. Robert Aderholt represents Alabama’s 4th Congressional District.
In Ballroom A, Dr. Joe Hess presided over the Production Session, where Joe Moore, business practices unit supervisor, USDA, GIPSA and PSP briefed the audience on the New Farm Bill Regulations. Tommy Walker, mid south technical service representative for Cobb-Vantress, Inc. reawakened the audience with his presentation on Breeder Hen Management. Cocci Control – Where Do We Go was the topic addressed by Dr. Steve Fitz-Coy, of Merck Animal Health. The final presentation of the session was by Dr. Susan Watkins, extension poultry specialist, University of Arkansas, titled What I’ve Learned About Water. Dr. Watkins is a leading expert on optimizing drinking water quality for poultry.
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November / December 2012
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Legislative & Media Omelet Breakfast and Spring Board Meeting April 11 – Montgomery
AP&EA “Evening of Fun” June 8 – Birmingham
Annual Meeting July 22 – 23, Sandestin, Fla.
Alabama Poultry Magazine