Alabama Poultry Sept/Oct 2017

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

September/October 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4

Board of Directors

Officers Kenneth Sanders President, Brundidge* Mitchell Pate, Vice President, Auburn* Jason Spann, Treasurer, Hanceville* Jason Shell, Secretary, Huntsville* Harold Hunt, Immediate Past President, Gadsden*

Directors Greg Abercrombie, Valhermoso Springs Johnny Adcock, Woodland Lou Ayers, Jasper Richard Curvin, Ashland Cory Early, Albertville Tim Esslinger, Huntsville Dale Gambrill, Cullman Ben Gore, Cullman Lane Holladay, Tyler Tim Holmes, Decatur Casey Jones, Hoover* Clint Lauderdale, Hanceville Neil Martin, Dothan David Massey, Enterprise Kevin McDaniel, Huntsville Dr. Shannon Morgan, Huntsville Mike Pigg, Montgomery John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Keith Rhodarmer, Collinsville Eric Rotermund, Russellville Roddy Sanders, Gordo Steve Smith, Hanceville Rod Thomas, Montgomery Ryan Turner, Guntersville Stanley Usery, Athens* Brad Williams, Troy Len Windham, Ariton Advisors Vernon Abney, Auburn Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery *Executive Committee Members

AP&EA StAff

Johnny Adams – Chief Executive Officer Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Associate 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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CEO’s Message

September and October have been good months for the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association. There is now full funding for the CAFO program. This funding will save those affected growers about $1,000. That’s not bad news heading into the holiday season.

In September we held a very successful Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop at the Lodge at Guntersville State Park. Attendance was great and our list of speakers and panel discussions was one of the best that we have had in years.

In October we held the Allied Industry Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Chesley Oaks Golf Course in Cullman. The weather was beautiful and everyone had a lot of fun. The reason for the tournament was to raise money for deserving poultry science students and future poultry industry leaders. The tournament raised more than $15,000.

It is exciting to see attendance was up at all of the county association meetings.

Association President Kenneth Sanders has been able to attend a number of those meetings, living up to his pledge to visit every county or regional meeting during his term of office. As a grower himself, I know that he is encouraged to see so many folks turn out.

Ray and Huck have once again gone on the career expo circuit. They have exposed thousands of Alabama young people and their teachers to our wonderful industry.

We also got the opportunity to participate in the Alabama National Fair, and it was my privilege to emcee an omelet cook-off between Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan and Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler, both great friends of the Alabama poultry industry. Next year we plan on doing it again with more participants. This was done with a grant from the American Egg Board.

Good news from the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Research & Education Center – the administration building, which will house the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame, is scheduled to open in January 2018. It is going to give visitors a chance to experience the greatness of our Alabama poultry pioneers.

Touching on some serious business, with lower temperatures and damp weather, continue to maintain your biosecurity efforts. This is the kind of weather that AI seems to love, and with ducks and geese migrating south, stay on the alert.

I hope that you and your family have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.

Government Affairs: Defend the flock Association News Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop Allied Industries Scholarship Golf tournament Grower Profile: Mike and Karen Hill VIP Profile: Elanco Industry News Practical Applications Calendar of Events

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Featuring This Issue

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Governmental Affairs

Protecting Your Flock During Fall Migration

Waterfowl fly at 40 to 60 miles per hour. Migrating mallards can cover 800 miles in 8 hours if helped by 50 mile per hour tail winds.We know you’ve heard it before: seasonal migratory patterns bring an increased risk of disease-carrying birds interacting with commercial or backyard poultry. But the health and safety of our U.S. poultry flock is important enough to make it worth repeating.

Birds, particularly waterfowl like ducks and geese, can carry avian influenza without showing any symptoms or signs of disease. Because the risk of introduction never goes away, having

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strong biosecurity practices on poultry operations can help prevent the spread of infectious disease before it starts. The 2014-2015 U.S. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak is never far from my mind. It forced us to reevaluate our preparedness and response capabilities, from a federal, state, and industry standpoint. Today, we are all better prepared to handle and quickly respond to avian influenza detections.

Our Wild Bird Surveillance Program, which has been in place for more than a decade, is on-going. Since July 2015, USDA and our partners have collected more than 90,000 samples to monitor avian influenza strains in wild birds in the United States. This improves our ability to detect these viruses

Alabama Poultry Magazine

and helps poultry producers and others make informed management decisions.

The program also gives us a chance to learn more about the virus, including the make-up and transmission of various virus strains.We’ve taken these experiences and lessons learned from the 2014-15 outbreak and developed Defend the Flock, an outreach program that offers commercial poultry growers important information to help put the best biosecurity practices into place.

Defend the Flock provides multiple resources for poultry growers, including guidance on biosecurity basics, an assessment tool to help strengthen their biosecurity programs, and sharable materials to help everyone at their operations better understand biosecurity’s importance.

Posted by Jack Shere, DVM, Ph.D., USDA/APHIS Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer in

Animals Oct 16, 2017,

Association Business The Cullman Area Charities

The Cullman Ag Teachers

Cullman County Holds Annual Meeting

CULLMAN – On Saturday, Sept. 16, The Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association held its annual meeting at the Cullman Civic Center. The atmosphere was cordial as poultry producers from the county got together to celebrate their industry and have a good meal.

Highlights of the evening include the awarding of $500 to each of nine local charities and eight Cullman County high school agricultural departments. These funds came from raffle ticket sales for a John Deere Gator. The drawing for the Gator came at the end of the meeting.

Another highlight came with the introduction of the newest member of the Cullman County Poultry Hall of Fame. This years inductee was Danny Farr. Farr, a veteran of the U.S. Army, taught school from 1967 until he retired in 1995. The last 23 years of his teaching career was spent at Hanceville High School. He and his wife, Geraldine, built their first two poultry houses in 1987 and two more in 1994, growing for Wayne Farms for 25 years and Koch Foods for three years before retiring from the poultry business. The couple have been active in the Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association; he has served as secretary/treasurer for many years, continuing on after retiring from the poultry business in 2015.

With the awards over, it was time to get down to the real business at hand.

Each person got out their door prize tickets and scanned their numbers. Once all the door prizes had been given out it was time for the big payoff – the Gator. And, while many invested much, Chauna Lamar, who had been given a single ticket, won.

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George Scott passed out awards to the association co-presidents, Sabrina Hudson (above) and Phillip Garrison (below).

Danny & Geraldine Farr

Kenneth Sanders talks with Louie Ward of Talapoosa Electric Co-op and his wife.

Trevor Casey, vice president of sales for GES Solar, presented the benefits of solar electrical generation to the growers. They currently have one installation in Clay County.

Ray Hilburn talks with Champ Thornton, the new broiler manager for Koch Foods, Ashland.

Clay County Poultry & Egg Association Holds Quarterly Meeting

LINEVILLE – Miss Anita’s Cafe was the site of the Clay County Poultry & Egg Association meeting on Friday, Sept. 28.

The well attended meeting featured a presentation on the benefits of solar energy to growers by Trevor Casey of GES Solar. GES Solar has recently in-

stalled solar electric panels on Cary Nolen’s farm there in Lineville.

Also on the program, Jay Stewart of Farm Systems, presented the new STAALKAT Farmpacker automatic egg packing system from SANOVO Technology.

Living up to his pledge to attend a

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meeting of each county association, AP&EA President Kenneth Sanders spoke briefly about the need for membership in AP&EA. It was also good to see Koch Foods, Ashland’s new broiler manager Champ Thornton and his family at the meeting.

As usaul, the catfish was great.

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AP&EA Back On the Expo Trail

Career expos are important, because they expose Alabama eighth graders to a variety of career fields, many of which they had no idea about, as well as the educational requirements for those careers. It also gives industry an oportunity to begin a low key recruitment process.

At AP&EA, we see this as an excellent way to interest students and educate their teachers in our great industry.

The first event was Sept. 14-15, at Southern Union Community College in Opelika. More than 4,000 students from Lee and surounding counties participated. On Thursday afternoon, high school students and their parents came through the presentations.

Outside the trailer, Ray was talking Auburn poultry science – inside the trailer ...

Ray is enjoying showing Brenda Tuck of the Alabama Dept. of Commerce the biddies in our incubator. A steady stream of area eighth graders also enjoyed the little ones. For many, it was their first experience seeing farm animals.

The second event took place on Oct. 11-13, at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. More than 4,500 eighth graders came through as a part of the Worlds of Work program. On Thursday afternoon, ninth through 12th graders were invited along with their parents to view the career opportunities available.

We were assisted by a team from Mississippi State University department of poultry science, who brought their poultry house demonstration trailer.

Outside the trailer, Ray was pitching Auburn poultry science, while inside, well, it is their trailer.

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The young man in back, with his hands on his hips, is already sold on the poultry industry. He is Anthony Parker, Peco Foods’ Denny Hickman’s grandson.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Trent Thomas of Goshen FFA Wins at 90th FFA Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS – The Alabama FFA Association’s trip to the 90th National FFA Convention was highlighted by a Goshen FFA member winning National Poultry Production Proficiency.

Trenton Michael Thomas of the Goshen FFA Chapter in Alabama is the National Winner of the National FFA Poultry Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency out of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excelled as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees, or volunteers while they gained hands-on career experience. Poultry Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement is one of 47 FFA proficiency award categories offered at local, state, and national levels. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.

Trent grew up helping on the family’s poultry farm. He works in eight broiler houses on a daily basis, working with 158,270 birds. His duties include managing the operation, monitoring and addressing problems, culling birds early in the growing process, as well as maintaining interior equipment, air quality, water, feed and ventilation systems. Trenton is currently attending Trenholm State Community College studying diesel mechanics. He is supported by his parents, Angie and Chris Thomas, and his FFA advisors, Cody Eiland and Jamie Rich.

More than 67,000 FFA members, advisors, and guests attended the 90th National FFA Convention. Goshen FFA was fortunate to have 11 FFA members and supporters in

Trent Thomas proudly holds the two plaques he won for poultry production proficiency at the 90th FFA National Convention.

attendance. The theme for the convention was I Can, We Will.

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 645,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

On June 8, 2017, at the 89th Annual Alabama FFA Convention, Trent Thomas was presented the top poultry proficiency award by AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn.

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Alabama Poultry IndustryWorkshop

The winning team

Enjoying the pavillion

John Roberts

AP&EA Holds 2017 Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop

Ray Hilburn

Dana Bennet

AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams

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The 2017 Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop, held at scenic Lake Guntersville State Park and Resort, got off to a terrific start on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

The first action began at 11:30 at the Eagle’s Nest Golf Course inside Lake Guntersville State Park. Coming in first was the team of Chris Carter, Mike Bobo, Randy Young and Michael Imming. Second place went to the team of Mitchell Pate, Mark Wilton, Hunter Camp and Ben Tidwell. Lunch and prizes were provided by Cobb-Vantress.

At 5:30 p.m., everyone convened at the Beach Park Pavilion for some hospitality and dinner, as the folks from K Supply Company served a grilled pork tenderloin dinner to die for. The conversation was as spirited as the food was good.

Hospitality was provided by Hubbard Breeders; and facilities by Animal Health International, Aviagen and Casey Jones/L.B. White.

Bright and early the next morning the poultry pros were up and moving toward the large Grandview Ballroom at the beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge.

Once they registered and got all of their seminar materials, they enjoyed a continental breakfast, provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Inside the spacious hall, everything was in readiness. At promptly 8:00 a.m., with Dana Bennett, poultry consumer protection specialist, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, presiding; AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn, welcomed everyone and set the tone for the day.

The first topic was a discussion on blackhead control, with Barry Fuller of Aviagen and Trey Tidwell, assistant north Alabama breeder manager, Wayne Farms LLC, Guntersville. They presented a PowerPoint program on Blackhead CleanUp Procedures developed by the House of Raeford, Raeford Farms of Louisiana.

Dr. Josh Payne, technical services manager of Jones-Hamilton, next presented a program titled Litter Management for Disease Control. He was followed by Dr. Francene Van Sambeek, associate technical advisor, Elanco Animal Health, who presented a very graphic Necropsy Slide Show. A break, sponsored by Ceva and Hubbard Breeders, followed Dr. Van Sambeek’s presentation.

With a growing movement away from the use of antibiotics, it was particularly appropriate to have poultry nutritionist Dr. Mike Blair, of Devenish Nutrition, LLC., present Probiotic Use in the Poultry Industry, following the break.

Dr. Paul Patterson, dean of Auburn University College of Agriculture, presented a short video giving an overview of the development of the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Research & Education Center, and the plans for future expansion. The proposed Administration and Education Building will house the Visitor Center and the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame. This will serve to illustrate the strong and historic partnership of Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and the

Alabama Poultry Magazine

poultry industry with Auburn University.

Dr. Patterson’s presentation was followed by a timely panel discussion on How to Prepare for AI. Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Director, Emergency Programs Section, Ben Mullins moderated the panel. Panel members included: Keith Dyer, breeder manager, Peco Foods, Inc.; Kate Hayes, DVM, MAHM, ACPV, production program veterinarian, Aviagen North America; and Lance Weaver, breeder/hatchery manager, Ingram Farms, Inc. After the panel discussion, there was a break for lunch, sponsored by American Proteins and D&F Equipment Sales, in the large Goldenrod Room, with its spectacular view of Lake Guntersville and the Tennessee River.

Following lunch, AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams spoke briefly. He thanked Dr. Patterson for his outstanding leadership in bringing the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Research & Education Center into reality. He also thanked the poultry companies and allied partners, many of whom were represented in the audience, for their efforts. He also thanked Randall Ennis, Mitchell Pate and Mark Wilton for their tireless fund-raising efforts. He commented briefly on the strangeness of Alabama politics. “On a very positive note,” he said, “our CAFO funding is fully-funded for the first time in four years. Had that not happened CAFO registration fees of well over $1,000 for many of our farmers could have been implemented.” He ended his comments by thanking Allied Committee Chairman Casey Jones and Production Committee Chairman Dale Gambrill for their hard work in putting together the program for the workshop.

The workshop resumed with Josh Bean, poultry consumer protection specialist, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, presiding. The session opened with an important panel discussion on How to Talk to Growers, moderated

by John Roberts. live production manager, Ingram Farms. Panel members included: Hunter Camp, breeder manager, Wayne Farms, Dothan; Ken Edwards, live operations manager, Keystone Foods, Eufaula; and Chris Raley, live operations manager, Koch Foods, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Having witnessed the results of an AI outbreak firsthand, Peggy Vardaro, poultry supervisor, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, was an ideal choice to talk about the necessity of biosecurity. She presented 14 Biosecurity Principals.

The final hour of the workshop was devoted to poultry housing. The National Poultry Technology Center’s Dr. Jeremiah Davis presented an NPTC Overview in which he talked about the various projects that the center had in the works. He was followed by Dennis Brothers, who addressed Hot Topics in Poultry Housing.

With that presentation, the meeting was adjourned.

Comments on the workshop were very positive, with many looking forward to coming back next year.

Dr. Francene Van Sambeek

Barry Fuller

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Dean Paul Patterson

Peggy Vardaro

Dr. Josh Payne

Dennis Brothers

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26th Allied Industry Scholarship Golf Tournament Held at Chesley Oaks

CHESLEY OAKS GOLf COURSE – It was a bright but blustery day, with a few clouds building up toward evening. The temperatures stayed mild throughout the day. And, there were some great shots and some shots that could have been great, but just couldn’t quite cut the mustard. Fortunately, everybody had a day job to fall back on. But, it was a great day to be outside with friends, as long as you didn’t take things too seriously.

Poultry pros, and some wanna be golf pros, got together at the 26th annual Alabama Poultry Allied Industry Scholarship Golf Tournament to raise scholarship money for poultry science students in Alabama. The tournament was held on Oct. 27, at the Chesley Oaks Golf Course, near Cullman.

The tournament raised more than $15,000 for poultry science scholarships. Many thanks to the hard work put in by Barry Fuller and Casey Jones.

2017 ALLIED GOLF PRIZE SPONSORS First Place – American Proteins Second Place – Cobb-Vantress Third Place – Sunbelt Rentals and Jones-Hamilton Co. Fourth Place – Keystone Foods - Gadsden Putting Contest Prize – Casey Jones/L. B. White Longest Drive – Alabama Farm Credit Closest to Pin – Alabama Ag Credit

2017 GUN RAFFLE SPONSOR First South Farm Credit DINNER SPONSOR MWI Animal Health

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First place winners! Clay Thornton, Trey Hanvey, Jason Shell and Steve Smith

2nd Place: Larry Baugh, David Booker and Jeremy Martin. Not shown: Jeff Burroughs

3rd Place: Lane Camp, David Garrison and David Watts. Not shown, Billy Conquest

2017 ALLIED GOLF SPONSORS Alabama Farm Credit AlaTrade Foods Allen Farm Solutions Inc. American Proteins Inc. Animal Health International AU College of Agriculture Aviagen Boehringer Ingleheim California Pellet Mill - CPM Ceva Cintas Citizens Bank & Trust Clear View Enterprises Cobb-Vantress, Inc. Cumberland D & F Equipment Sales, Inc. DS Smith DSM Elanco Animal Health Farmers Poultry FFB Ag Finance

First South Farm Credit Fitco Gemstone Foods Hubbard LLC International Paper Jones-Hamilton Company Keystone Foods – Eufaula Keystone Foods – Gadsden Keystone Foods – Huntsville Liphatech, Inc. Live Oak Bank Marel Inc. Meyn America Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. - P.S.S.I Randy Jones & Associates Roxell USA Sunbelt Rentals Tyson Foods Wayne Farms, North Alabama Zoetis

4th Place: John Pemberton, Jimmy Hanvey, Lynn Shaddix and Alan Wood

Closest to the Hole: Randall Ennis , Jimmy Hanvey (won two holes) and Earl Kilcrease

Longest Drive: Trey Hanvey, Steve Smith, Patrick Bright and Richard Palmer

2017 ALLIED GOLF HOLE SPONSORS Alabama Farm Credit AlaTrade Foods Allen Farm Solutions Inc. American Proteins Inc. AU College of Agriculture Aviagen Boehringer Ingleheim California Pellet Mill Ceva Cintas Clear View Enterprises Cobb-Vantress, Inc. Cumberland D & F Equipment Sales, Inc. DSM Farmers Poultry

FFB Ag Finance First South Farm Credit Fitco Gemstone Foods Hubbard LLC Keystone Foods – Eufaula Keystone Foods – Gadsden Keystone Foods – Huntsville Live Oak Bank Meyn America Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. – P.S.S.I. Roxell USA Sunbelt Rentals Tyson Foods Wayne Farms, North Alabama Zoetis

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John Sport won Casey Jones’ putting contest.

Jeff Sims won the drawing for the Bennelli Shotgun.

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Grower Profile

Mike and Karen Hill Believe in Keeping Their Eggs in Many Baskets

Cotton Pinyan hated casseroles When Karen Hill’s parents got married in 1955, they lived in Birmingham. Her mother worked for Alabama Power and her father worked for Blach’s Shoe Store. Her father, Cotton Pinyan, had always wanted to farm, so they bought some land and built a house in Holly Pond. It didn’t take long for him to realize that he needed another source of income, so in the evenings, after having farmed all day, he would drive in to Birmingham to bartend at Birmingham’s prestigious The Club.

It was while working at The Club that he developed his dislike of casseroles. It seems that on Friday, the cooks would combine all the leftovers from that week, add a cream sauce with some croutons and bake a casserole. That would then be served to the workers. Cotton never did like those casseroles.

And, while the casseroles were never his favorite, the job did allow for some luxuries. He bought a cotton picker and helped subsidize the farm. They built the first home in Cullman County with central air and heat. There was even an article in the local newspaper about the house.

Cotton also had a bull dozier business. That’s where Mike came into the picture. He started working with her father in the summers when he was 14. His parents owned a nursery business and he did not like hoeing in the fields. He quickly became buddies with her brother, Sam. He and Karen had started first Karen, a retired teacher, and her husband, Mike Hill, who has a busigrade together, and he was always at their house, especially ness building pads for chicken houses, learned a lot from Karen’s faduring the summer. ther. One of the main lessons to be a success in farming was – you Karen and her younger brother, Sam, also helped in the cannot put your eggs in one basket. dozier business. Cotton always made Karen wear a cap with her hair tucked up underneath, so that no one would know that she was a girl. Karen says of her brother, Paul, who is four years her junior, “Mama always kept him at home, probably because Sam and I were so bad.”

In 1986, one year out of college with a Master’s degree in agricultural economics, Mike was working an office job for Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems in Winston County and Karen was teaching. After a weekend at the races in Talladega, they brought their new baby, Meghan, to visit the family in Holly Pond. Cotton, tired of the constant demands of the dozier work and wanting to be a full-time farmer, offered them an opportunity to come home and help Mike take over the dozier business. After some discussion, Karen and Mike agreed.

Mike and his best friend, Beau, check on the newest bull.

The first 10 years were difficult. The two doziers that Mike

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Mike and Karen had known each other all through school, in fact, her brother, Sam, was his best friend, but they had never dated. One evening during their senior year he called her up and asked her to the Cullman County Fair. Even though she was dating someone else, she agreed to go. He was, after-all, her brother’s best friend.

Mike was quite a good basketball player, so, on the midway he won a double armload of teddy bears for his date. They were just leaving when a friend of theirs, working for the Cullman Times, took this picture. It made the front page, spelling the end of one romance and the begining of one that still going.

started out with were old and, even though they had been well maintained, they required a lot of work to keep running.

Still, it beat sitting behind a desk all day.

That same year the family got into the chicken business when Cotton and Sam built eight 40’ x 500’ houses for Spring Valley, which Tyson later bought. Sam was at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville studying precision machining. Mike later became interested in the chicken business and approached Tyson in 2008, but never followed through.

Before Karen, who was teaching culinary arts at the Cullman County Vocational School, retired in 2013, they had approached Tyson Foods again about growing for them, but Tyson was not taking on any new growers, so they signed on with Ingram.

One day, while Mike was finishing up his pads, Kevin Allen of Tyson Foods, and a family friend, (Karen had known him as a student when she was teaching home economics at Holly Pond High School) showed up where Mike was working. Mike was scheduled to go to Kevin’s Freebird Farm to

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do some work after he finished his own pads, and he was worried that Kevin might be in a hurry to get the work done.

Kevin, however, had something else in mind. Kevin instead offered them a contract. After squaring everything with Ingram Farms, and getting the Tyson housing requirements, they began construction in April of 2013, building four 42’ x 500’ houses. They got their first flock in January 2014.

They now grow a bird with a target weight of 5.80 lbs.

Their last flock came in at 6.11 lbs. They are ranked ninth out of 114 growers. They had been as high as sixth, but two flocks with reovirus dropped their rankings. It has taken them six flocks to break back in to the top 10.

Their four year old houses are immaculate. After every flock, Mike washes the houses down. They hire someone to come in and do the cleanout and windrow the litter. Karen has two young women who come in and help her set up the houses.

They realize that at four years old, the houses will need upgrades in three to four years. Mike says that he doesn’t understand growers that complain about having to upgrade their houses. He even changes his fan belts twice a year. The agricultural economist in him says, “In business, you’ve got to make upgrades to stay competitive.”

They also believe, just as Cotton Pinyan believed – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Today they have 168 mama cows in production, 43 heifers on feed, and 58 weaning calves. Mike remarks, “They are our insurance.” That’s just another egg basket.

Karen and Mike are joined by their daughters and sons-in-law. (Left to right) Cobie Rutherford, a Ph.D. candidate at Mississippi State University. He is also the beef specialist for Mississippi State. He is married to Amie, a pharmacist at CVS in Starkville, Miss. He and Amie have one son, Reason. Daughter, Meghan teaches cullinary arts at Cullman County Vocational School. She is married to Jaret Veal, technical services/housing coordinator with DSM. She and Jaret are expecting their first child in January;

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Hot Competition at the Alabama National Fair

Our judges for the event were Michael Agar of the Alabama Cattlemens Association, Leigha Cauthen of the Agribusiness Council and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier

MONTGOMERY – On Oct. 31, at the Alabama National Fair, AP&EA sponsored an omelet challenge between Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan and Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler. The contest was held in the Creative Living Center on the fairgrounds.

The hard fought contest was won by Commissioner McMillan, who whipped up a shrimp omelet with a garnish of parsely for presentation.

The competition, funded, in part, by a generous grant from the American Egg Board, was a real success. It was so much fun, we're planning to do it again next year and get more competitors involved.

AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams emceed the event held in the Creative Living Pavilion.

Admin Building Coming Up Nicely

The Administation-Education Building at the Charles C. Miller Jr., Poultry Research & Education Center is under construction. This 80,000-square-foot facility, scheduled for completion in early 2018, will serve as the Miller Center’s flagship building. Approximately 1,200 square feet have been designated for an interactive visitor center devoted to the Alabama poultry industry, in which the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame will be showcased.

Through this interactive display, the past, present and future of the poultry industry can come to life, while the true innovators and pioneers of the industry are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

Both of our contestants were great sports and a lot of fun.

I got in the fun by manning our fair booth.

Industry Business

Saluting Elanco, AP&EA VIP Sponsor

As a long-time VIP Sponsor of the programs of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, we are proud to feature Elanco.

Elanco’s proven technologies enable producers to deliver more food while using fewer resources. Their antibacterials, anticoccidials, vaccines and parasiticides make food safer by preventing and controlling disease and by reducing threats to poultry health. They offer safety tools that ensure the integrity of the food supply, while also enhancing productivity to make food affordable and abundant by increasing the amount of meat each chicken can supply. Their data and analytical services improve production efficiency to make poultry affordable and abundant.

Customers who use their poultry products know the company’s commitment to ensuring optimal respiratory and intestinal health for efficient, uniform growth. They always aim to deliver value throughout the food chain by

Elanco is represented in Alabama by Brian Horton, account executive; Jesse Rodriguez, senior sales rep; and Dr. Francene Van Sambeek, associate advisor & technical consultant.

helping ensure intestinal integrity, helping poultry producers raise uniform flocks and improve production efficiency. Elanco makes products for broilers, breeders, layers and turkeys that protect poultry health and ensure consistent performance by preventing and controlling diseases and health threats, including: coccidiosis (one of the most frequently reported diseases in broiler production); bacterial enteritis (caused by clostridium perfringens); protecting respiratory health; managing

the factors that cause feed induced immune response (FIIR); controlling mycoplasma; improving feed efficiency and weight gain; and managing and eliminating pests and parasites.

Their innovations also contribute to food safety by reducing the threat of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella. Furthermore, they support all of their products with technical expertise and access to recognized leaders in poultry production and animal health.

USPOULTRY Recognizes Tyson River Valley Animal Foods and Keystone Foods with Clean Water Awards

tUCKER, Ga. – Sept. 21, 2017 – The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) awarded the 2017 Clean Water Award to Tyson Foods River Valley Animal Foods in Scranton, Ark., and Keystone Foods in Gadsden, Ala. The award is presented annually to poultry facilities that are excelling in their efforts at wastewater treatment and water reuse. The winners were chosen by a committee of industry engineers, industry managers, university personnel and industry media. Awards were presented during USPOULTRY’s Environmental Management Seminar in Destin, Fla. Keystone Foods’ further processing facility in Gadsden, Ala., was chosen as the winner in the pretreatment category.

In the last few years, the further processing plant has been able to reduce

water consumption by more than 200,000 gallons per day due to changes made in refining operating procedures and engineering controls. This included the installation of a central vacuum system to transfer byproducts and switching to a steam pasteurization process to sanitize the chillers and freezers. The facility processes approximately 493,000 pounds of further processed poultry products each day, and the treated waste reclaimed biosolids are land-applied to cropland and pastures.

More than four million gallons of nutrient rich biosolids have been land-applied to pastures and cropland cultivated with soybeans, corn, rye, and bermuda and fescue grasses since the plant’s startup. In 2015, Keystone’s Gadsden facility implemented its Envi-

Alabama Poultry Magazine

ronment Management System (EMS) “EnviroKEY,” to recognize and address potential environmental issues. Since implementation, the EMS team has accomplished several goals in the areas of process safety management (PSM), stormwater, waste to landfill, biosolids production and wastewater. This includes receiving a 99 percent rating on its corporate PSM audit, reducing waste to landfill by 290 tons, and increasing phosphorus removal in its water discharge to the municipal treatment plant to 90-95 percent by implementing flow management, chemical evaluation and modification, and increasing mixed liquor suspended solids concentrations.

Pilgrim’s Guntersville, Ala., facility received honorable mention in the pretreatment category.

September/October 2017

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Aviagen Becomes First U.S. Poultry Primary Breeder Company to Achieve Compartment Certification

Compartmentalization strengthens security of supply for Aviagen customers worldwide HUNtSVILLE – Aviagen®, the porting officials have a high degree of Henriksen. “With compartment certifiglobal poultry genetics leader, has be- confidence in the health status of Avia- cation, primary breeding companies come the first poultry breeding com- gen imported stock, as the company’s like Aviagen can offer poultry growers pany in the U.S. to be certified as an biosecurity program and facilities have worldwide an uninterrupted supply of Avian Influenza Clean Compartment. been audited and certified by USDA quality breeding stock, enabling them to The USDA Animal Plant Health In- APHIS Veterinary Services. sustain the earth’s growing populations spection Service (APHIS) National with reliable, healthful and affordable Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) es- Putting biosecurity first protein.” tablished the program to set standards Maintaining the highest level of for protection against avian influenza poultry health, welfare and biosecurity Compartmentalization around the (AI) in primary poultry breeding com- is a foremost priority for Aviagen and is world panies. Aviagen’s pedigree and great an integral part of its breeding program, In 2010 Aviagen became the first grandparent facilities were audited and according to Dr. Eric Jensen, Aviagen’s primary poultry breeding company to certified that they meet these standards vice president of Veterinary Services for achieve compartment status recognized by the USDA APHIS. North America. by a government agency for its facilities “Practicing high standards of biose- in the U.K. curity has always been a foundation of Since compartment status has been Compartmentalization alleviates trade barriers our breeding program,” he explains. in place, Aviagen has successfully exCompartmentalization is an interna- “This new certification is recognition of ported to several countries throughout tional program developed by the World our rigorous biosecurity practices and, the world during outbreaks of notifiable Organization for Animal Health (OIE). along with our comprehensive flock disease in the UK. Later in 2015, Aviagen India’s It provides a mechanism for countries health monitoring program, brings around the world to accept stock from greater security of supply for Aviagen Elayamuthur facility was granted the status by the Central Indian Governan exporting country with an AI out- customers worldwide.” break by providing the importing counment and State Government of Tamil Nadu. Thus, in the event of a notifiable try’s officials with the ability to evaluate facilitating international trade suppliers based on an exporting com“In today’s world, AI has become disease, Aviagen India continues to depany’s management practices and the biggest threat to international trade, liver birds to customers in India or other biosecurity program. Aviagen’s com- and compartmentalization helps elimi- countries that have formally recognized partment certification means that im- nate this threat,” says Aviagen CEO Jan and accepted the status.

Zee Company Receives USDA Approval on Microtox® Plus and Microtox® Ultra For Use in Drag-Through Dip OLR Applications.

CHAttANOOGA, TN – Zee Company, a member of the Vincit Group, is pleased to announce the approval of Microtox® Plus and Microtox® Ultra by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for use as antimicrobial intervention chemistries in OLR dip tanks. Microtox® Plus and Microtox® Ultra are the only PAA chemistries that can be used either as a dip or a spray in OLR applications.

“FSIS has completed its review of your in-plant trial data has no objection for the use of Microtox Ultra [or Microtox Plus] in a drag-through dip OLR application…”(FSIS Letter - October 16, 2017)

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The FSIS approval for use in OLR systems using either Microtox® Plus or Microtox® Ultra is revolutionary. This latest advance is made possible through the combined efforts of ITG engineering and Zee Company chemistries. Zee Company is the only company with the approval to provide this antimicrobial intervention, and does so through its Pathogen Control Center (PCC), a fully automated PAA concentration system.

Zee Company continues to be the leader in antimicrobial intervention and sanitation strategies.

eight member companies. The member companies include Zee Company, QSI, Zeco, Pro Logistics, EIS, ITG, TCS and Numark. The member companies are organized into a vertically-integrated business model that provides sustainable value for clients through the elimination of administrative duplicity and exact coordination of efforts by known customer-centric professionals.

The Vincit Group serves the protein-processing, ready-to-eat food, snack food, pet food, dairy, beverage, brewing, seafood, automotive battery, lumber, health care, and general manuAbout the Vincit Group facturing industries. For more informaThe Vincit Group is comprised of tion, please visit www.vincitgroup.com.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Alabama Poultry Magazine

September/October 2017

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Practicle Applications

Dr. Leonard Fussell

Getting Ready For Winter the NPTC Way

On Oct. 24, the National Poultry Technology Center hosted a “Get Ready for Cold Weather Seminar” at their building on the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Education and Research Center, Auburn University. More than 100 poultry industry personnel from as far away as Washington state were in attendance at the new state-of-the-art teaching and research facility.

After a welcome by NPTC’s Dr. Jess Campbell, AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn provided the audience with an update on continuing biosecurity efforts in Alabama for the fall wild waterfowl migration. He encouraged all of the service techs to continue reminding their growers about the need for maintaining proper biosecurity procedures.

Hilburn was followed by Dr. Leonard Fussell, a veterinarian and poultry grower from North Carolina, who spoke on Moisture, Management & Litter.

He stressed maintaining the proper control of moisture, humidity and heat for flock health.

The remainder of the morning session, including a short break, was taken up with the Basic Principles of Winter Ventilation with Jim Donald and Dennis Brothers. The audience participated in a number of hands-on demonstrations illustrating several principals of the discussion.

After a break for lunch, there were three 40-minute rotating breakout sessions. Jess Campbell led the session on Fans & Vents; Dennis Brothers led the session on Insulation; and Jeremiah Davis led the session on Heaters. Each of these presentations also gave audience members a chance to do some hands-on work with the instructors.

With everyone back together, NPTC’s guru of economics, Gene Simpson, talked about Energy Saving Priorities and how they affect the grower’s profitability. The final session featured the full NPTC staff for an open forum presentation titled Putting the Package Together.

The next NPTC program will be their Housing Short Course, scheduled for Nov. 2829.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

Dennis Brothers and Jim Donald

Jeremiah Davis gets hands on

Jim Donald and friends with hair dryers

Jess Campbell talks fan belts

Control of Coccidiosis

Ruediger Hauck, Auburn University, Depts. of Pathobiology and Poultry Science Ken Macklin, Auburn University, Dept. of Poultry Science

Watery dropping associated with E. acervulina infection as well as bloody droppings associated with E. tenella and rust colored droppings associated with E. maxima infection

Small intestine with necrotic enteritis which is typically partially caused by E. maxima Coccidia are a group of parasites that infect the intestines of chickens. The worldwide damage caused by coccidia to the poultry industry has been estimated at several billion U.S. dollars each year. The damage is due to decreased weight gain and feed conversion with or without overt disease including mortality. Infection with some coccidia can also predispose the birds to necrotic enteritis.

Birds get infected by ingesting a durable stage of the parasite from the environment, the sporulated oocysts. After infection the parasite undergoes several rounds of replication in the intestinal wall of its host. About four to six days after the infection, oocysts are released from the intestinal wall and shed in the feces. The releasing of the oocysts is what causes damage to the intestine. Before oocysts can successfully infect a new host, they need to mature in the environment, a process called sporulation. Depending on the environmental conditions, this can take between 12 hours to several days.

Because infection with a single oocyst can result in the shedding of millions of new oocysts into the environment, the presence or introduction of very few oocysts in a flock will quickly result in the infection of all birds within the flock with a high number of parasites.

The factors determining the outcome of infection are (1) which coccidia species is or are infecting the birds, (2) the infection pressure, i.e. the number of oocysts in the environment, and (3) the immune defense of the birds against coccidia. While there is nothing that can be done to control which specific coccidia are present in a house, there are various measures to decrease the infection pressure and to

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let the birds gradually build immunity against coccidia without compromising gut health. In addition, anticoccidials interfere with the replication of the parasites in the host and thus mitigate the damage the infection causes. Whatever the control program, constant monitoring for coccidia in order to see if the chosen approach is working or needs adjustment is necessary.

Reduction of the infection pressure Oocysts are extremely durable and can remain infective for months in the environment. The only groups of disinfectants that can destroy coccidia are cresols, other phenol derivates or products that generate ammonia, and these products act only after a contact time of at least two hours. For this reason, classical biosecurity measures are usually not effective to prevent introduction of coccidia into chicken houses or to achieve a completely coccidia-free environment by cleaning and disinfection. In addition, it is questionable if a completely coccidia-free environment would be desirable, since a low level presence of coccidia will act similar as a vaccination as described below.

To keep the level low, the litter should be kept dry by preventing water leaking from the drinkers and by adequate

Bloody ceca caused by E. tenella

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Lesions typical of E. acervulina

Mixed infection containing E. acervulina and E. maxima lesions

ventilation, because oocysts are susceptible to dryness and Broilers are often vaccinated on their first day of life in need moisture for sporulation. Top dressing the litter and the hatchery to start the cycling and to provide protection as keeping drinkers maintained will further help to limit the early as possible. The vaccine is applied as spray and the spread of the parasite. chicks will take it up when preening themselves or their hatch mates. Some sprays are viscous with larger droplet size, Use of anticoccidials which are easier for the chicks to take up.

Various compounds interfere with the replication of Each coccidia species induces immunity only against coccidia in the host and can be given as feed additives. itself, but not against the other species. For this reason, Ionophore antibiotics like salinomycin, monensin or lasalocid vaccines need to contain only species that are considered are differentiated from “chemical” compounds, a dissimilar relevant, which means coccidia vaccines for broilers contain group, including diclarzuril, nicarbazine and robenidine, less species than vaccines for older birds. among others.

After prolonged use of one anticoccidial, coccidia can Combination of anticoccidials and vaccination become resistant against it. To slow the development of The coccidia in the vaccines are susceptible to resistances and to prevent the spread of resistant coccidia as commonly used anticoccidial feed additives, so flocks much as possible, the same anticoccidial or the same type of vaccinated with these vaccines should not receive anticoccidial should not given for a prolonged time (single anticoccidials if the aim of the vaccination is that the birds program). Anticoccidials should be changed on a regular build immunity. basis, either after a certain number of flocks (rotation However, anticoccidials and vaccines can be rotated. program), after each flock (switch program) or between One way to do this, which is currently much discussed, is to starter and grower feed (shuttle or dual program). vaccinate the chicks per normal at the hatchery and have no The use of anticoccidials, especially the ionophore anticoccidial in the starter feed. The grower feed then antibiotics, has received criticism lately. Broilers marketed as contains anticoccidials, killing the vaccine off (bio shuttle).

“No antibiotics ever” are not to be given ionophores, while Bio shuttle programs do not allow the birds to build birds marketed as “organic” are not allowed to receive any protective immunity. The aim is rather to have very low traditional anticoccidial feed additives. Consequently, a large levels of coccidia later in the production cycle and at the variety of alternative products, mainly plant extracts, have same time prevent the development of resistances by seeding been tested for their efficacy against coccidia with various each new flock freshly with susceptible coccidia. An older results. method of the same approach was to rotate anticoccidials and vaccine after several flocks of each.

Vaccination Vaccination can be performed by giving the birds Conclusion coccidia strains that are less harmful or a strictly controlled Coccidiosis can cause major damage when not controlled low dose of coccidia that will not cause disease. Since the low properly. Since coccidia are present in virtually every chicken doses that are used for vaccination induce a proportionally house and are all but impossible to get rid of, coccidia control low level of immunity, the efficacy of vaccination depends requires careful management of the house environment in on the continuing presence of the vaccine strains in the flock. addition to application of anticoccidial feed additives and/or Only after several infection cycles, the birds will have a coccidia vaccines. strong immunity.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – from the National Poultry Technology Center

Lumber Wall/ Curtain Leakage

Damaged Fan Shutter

Addressing air leaks at every possible point should be top priority when preparing for cold weather; as these leaks cost you the most fuel dollars and often directly impact bird health.

Shifted cellulose insulation

Heat loss due to shifted cellulose insulation

Check your attic: the often used blown cellulose insulation has shown to slide and compress over time, leaving large areas at the peak of the ceiling uninsulated – losing massive amounts of heat into the attic in winter.

Improper radiant brooder combustion caused by low gas pressure, clogged orifices or faulty gas valves can easily mean a 25 degree difference in heat on the floor – all while burning the same amount of gas.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

Leaking nipples, improper height adjustment, excessive pressure – all can cause drinker systems to deposit a lot of moisture onto the floor causing wet litter, which cause you to over work your ventilation, which can cause you to burn more fuel to maintain proper temperature.

It is common during partial house brooding to leave the full house of perimeter vents open. This causes only half of the ventilated air to directly benefit to the birds.

When calculating minimum vent run times under this scenario, always double the anticipated run time.

Go to www.poultryhouse.com for ways to address these and many other cold weather concerns.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS AP&EA “Big Bass” Fishing Tournament Friday, May 11, 2018 Lake Guntersville

AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Golf Tournament Friday, May 18, 2018 Silver Lakes Golf Club Glencoe

AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Concert Saturday, June 9, 2018 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham

Alabama Poultry Magazine

AP&EA Annual Meeting July 16-17 Sandestin Hilton Beach Resort Destin, Fla.