Just Hatched DEPARTMENT OF P OULTRY SCIENCE | AUBURN UNIVERSIT Y | SPRING 2017 NEWSLE T TER | VOLUME 4 ISSUE
CONGRATUL ATIONS, CL ASS OF 2017! Dear Alumni and Friends, The 2016-17 academic year has come to close and a new group of graduates is heading out to start new careers and chapters in their lives. As department head, I am exceedingly pleased to see where our students are placed (Aviagen, Ingram Farms, Tyson, Wayne, Law/Graduate School, etc.) and look forward to seeing them progress through their careers. Of course, it is bittersweet to see our students leave Auburn, but it is the reality of what we do. So I know just as a group of our students transitions to alumni, a new group of freshmen and transfers will show up on The Plains this fall. While this cycle repeats itself, the Department continues to make strides to improve its teaching efforts to prepare our students well and to serve the poultry and food industry in Alabama and beyond. As a milestone, we awarded the first Auburn BS degree in Food Science this spring and in Fall 2017 we will officially implement the new Poultry Production curriculum model, which will broaden our students’ background in all aspects of commercial production. Beyond our curriculum efforts, we continue to expand our 2+2 community college program, and hope to announce a fourth community college partner later this year. We are also launching a new departmental student group, Poultry Science Student Recruiters, to enrich our student recruitment. I might add that this is an idea of our students! The goal of these and other teaching-related efforts is to provide a learning
experience for our students that is second-tonone, and that our students will be viewed as the employees of choice by our stakeholders. Part of delivering an outstanding learning experience for our students is having outstanding facilities. We continue to develop the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Research and Education Center. Just this month we initiated a broiler nutrition/performance trial in one of the new facilities, and the second facility will be ready in the coming weeks. In late June, construction will start on the 8,000 square foot administration/education building. This building will not only provide the needed service function for the new center, but will provide a venue for the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame and significant historic displays. Please stay tuned as this project develops. In closing, please join me in congratulating our Class of 2017 on a job well done. I confidently look forward to seeing them emerge as young leaders in our industry! WAR EAGLE!
Don E. Conner Department Head & Professor
DEPARTMENT’S JOSEPH HESS NAMED PENN STATE’S TOP POULTRY ALUM
DR. J OSEPH HESS
In April of 2017 Dr. Joseph Hess, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, was named Poultry Science Distinguished Alumnus by the Department of Animal Science at Penn State University. The Auburn University College of Agriculture reports, “He was selected in recognition of the significant positive influence he has had in the poultry industry throughout his academic career and of his contributions through extension to enhance the industry nationally.” Read the full story online at poul.auburn.edu/news.
AUBURN STUDENTS EXCEL AT INTERNATIONAL POULTRY SCIENTIFIC FORUM HOSTED IN ATL ANTA , GEORGIA
SAVE THE DATE
2017 Alumni, Friends & Recruiting BBQ S ATU R DAY, S E P T. 2 , 2017 AU B U R N T I G ER S V S . G EO RG I A S O U T H ER N Come for the game, stay for lunch, visit with Department faculty, staff & students. Kick off and event time TBA. Follow us on Facebook for more information. GA ME TIME & TICKET I N F O R M AT I O N TO F O L LO W
poul.auburn.edu
Four Auburn students took home awards presented by the Souther Poultry Science Society at the 2017 International Poultry Science Forum held in conjunction with the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE). Avery Smith, who recently completed her B.S. in Food Science presented her research, Evaluating a novel bioelectric impedance analysis technology for the rapid detection of Wooden Breast myopathy in broiler breast fillets, which earned her the Don R. Sloan Undergraduate Research Award. She has accepted a position with the Department of Poultry Science to pursue her Master’s degree in Food Science this Fall. Elle Chadwick presented her research, Environmental influences of Salmonella Heidelberg colonization in commercial broilers. This project analyzed the variation in inoculation routes to mimic environmental conditions that may alter Salmonella colonization. She took home one of two Graduate Student Travel awards. In March of 2017, Chadwick was also awarded the Elanco Graduate Seminar Scholar award for this presentation. Reueben Kriseldi’s presentation, Effects of feeding reduced crude protein diets to broilers on growth performance and carcass
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE Undergraduate student Avery Smith (left) and graduate students Elle Chadwick, Kathryn Meloche and Reuben Kriseldi won awards for their research presentations.
characteristics from 15 to 35 d of age, earned him a 2017 SPSS Student Award. Kriseldi’s research sought to determine the effects of feeding reduced crude protein (CP) diets while providing adequate essential amino acid (AA) concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers from 15 to 35 days of age. Finally, Kathryn (Kate) Meloche brought home a second 2017 SPSS Student Award with her research presentation entitled, Effects of dietary protein source, digestible threonine to lysine ratio, and coccidiosis vaccination on the growth performance and processing characteristics of broiler chickens at 33 d of age. Meloche graduated with her PhD in Poultry Science May 6, 2017.
Presenting our 2017
SPRING GRADUATES
11
Students graduated from our department on May 6, 2017.
Of these students graduate with a B.S. in Poultry Science
3
7
Of our graduates completed their B.S. in Food Science (the first ever class to do so since our Food Science program became stand-alone.)
and their careers begin
The poultry science club held its annual End-of-the-year Crawfish Boil in April.
Poultry & Food Science Clubs wrap up their year
The Poultry Science club announces new officers. From left to right, Judson Powell Vice President, Thomas Knott Philanthropy, Chelsea Hooks President, Madeline Frazier Historian, Caroline Gamble Public Relations, Michael Norris Treasurer, and Tyler Easterwood Secretary. FOOD SCIENCE CLUB ELECTS NEW OFFICERS The 2017-2018 Food Science Club officers include Mary Jo Toohey President, Shelli Laskowitz Vice President, Evelyn Wilmon Treasurer, and Brittany Signh as Secretary.
With companies including: WAYNE FARMS INGRAM FARMS
AVIAGEN TYSON
And professional programs including: M ASTERS IN FOOD SCIENCE AT AUBURN UNIVERSIT Y L AW SCHOOL AT UNIVERSIT Y OF ARK ANS A S
In 2017 The Food Science Club partnered with Auburn Foods to package trail mix and yogurt covered pretzels that were sold on campus.
Four Food Science Club members competed in the IFT College Bowl. From left to right: Evelyn Willmon ,Courtney Willits, John Porter and Sarah Miller.
FOOD SCIENCE AND POULTRY SCIENCE STUDENTS CHOSEN BY AUBURN AS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS
With warm regards,
CONGRATULATIONS! Connor Dixon
B.S. Poultry Science
Madison Poland
B.S. Poultry Science
Drew Wear
B.S. Poultry Science
Victoria Holland
Brendon Kirby
B.S. Poultry Science
Avery Smith
B.S. Food Science
Tyler Wilson
B.S. Poultry Science
Sarah Miller
B.S. Poultry Science
B.S. Food Science
Austin Lock
Courtney Willits
B.S. Poultry Science
B.S. Food Science
Jessica Haverkampf B.S. Poultry Science
Our students exemplify service to the Auburn University campus, the College of Agriculture and our department. They represent their programs and organizations with professionalism and innovation, and we are excited to see them enter their industries with the full support of our department.
Auburn University’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship program encourages undergraduate students to collaborate on an individual research through competition for fellowship stipends. According to the Office of Undergraduate Research, “The Undergraduate Research Fellowship is highly prestigious, and former fellows have gone on to win nationally prestigious scholarships and attend top professional and graduate schools.” Each year, fellows are selected by a rigorous application process which includes applying for a position jointly with faculty, with a clear project outline and long-term research goals. They must also provide faculty letters of recommendation and comply with the fellowship requirements outlined by their school or college. This year, two students in the Department of Poultry Science have been selected as Undergraduate Research Fellowships from both the poultry and food science programs. Food science junior, Mary Jo Toohey, will collaborate with Dr. Leonard Bell as they investigate whether the combination of citrate buffer, iron, and UV light promotes enhanced chemical degradation of the food ingredient rebaudioside A (commonly known as Stevia). Judson Powell, poultry science junior, will investigate feed form and particle size interactions with poultry feeding behavior
M ARY J O TOOHE Y
Junior, Food Science
J UDSON P OWELL
Junior, Poultry Science
alongside Dr. Charles Starkey. In 2016, a total of eight students were chosen within the College of Agriculture for the Undergraduate Research Fellowship positions. In 2015 poultry science undergraduate, Klinton McCafferty, served as an Undergraduate Research Fellow, collaborating with Dr. William Dozier on Evaluation of Utilizing Wheat in Broiler Diets. In 2016, poultry science student Victoria Holland collaborated with Dr. Wallace Berry on her Undergraduate Research Fellowship project titled Effect of incubational egg turning intervals on gut development in the chick, gut morphology, and developmental biomarkers. To learn more about the Undergraduate Research Fellowship, visit: www.auburn.edu/undgres/fellowship.php
RUEDIGER HAUCK JOINS THE STAFF IN JOINT POSITION WITH COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Ruediger Hauck joined the staff of the Department of Poultry Science and the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine in Spring of 2017. After receiving his DVM and PhD from Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany Dr. Hauck held a number of post-doctoral positions related to poultry disease research. Listing his primary research interests as infectious diseases of poultry, he has worked on topics pertaining to intestinal health of poultry including Clostridium perfringens, Coccidiosis, and other parasites that affect poultry health. “While I enjoyed my post-doctoral years with the variety of experiences, scientific and otherwise, I had increasingly the feeling that I wanted to take the next step in my career.” Dr. Hauck said, "So when I heard about this position in Auburn, at a university with a very good reputation in the poultry world and in a state with a large poultry industry, it was natural for me to apply.” A veterinarian by trade, and with extensive work in infectious disease of poultry even into the diagnostic stages, Hauck is well suited to take on the joint position with Poultry Science and Pathobiology. "I have always recognized and taken into account in my work that poultry health is only
Our Department
IN THE NEWS RESE ARCHER DE VELOP S P OTENTIAL VACCINE FOR NEWC A S TLE , ILT
MARCH 21 2017 www.feedstuffs.com Quick Link: bit.ly/feedstuff-news-au
AUBURN P OULTRY RESE ARCHERS ANALY ZE THE COS T OF FREEDOM
DR. RUEDIGER HAUCK
one piece in the puzzle of poultry production, which cannot be looked at separately from the other aspects.” Hauck said. "I want to concentrate on intestinal health, which is not only highly relevant for poultry production, but in its complexity is also a fascinating scientific field,” he continued. “Dr. Hauck brings the experience and expertise to address critical avian health issues facing the commercial poultry industry. He will play a critical role in helping the Department serve our poultry industry,” said Don Conner, Department Head. Dr. Hauck will begin teaching poultry health classes in spring of 2018.
APRIL 2017 www.ift.org Quick Link: bit.ly/ift-news-auburn
AUBURN ’ S P OULTRY SCIENCE DEP T AWARDED FOUNDATION GR ANT
APRIL 7, 2017 www.thepoultrysite.com Quick Link: bit.ly/poultrysite-news
AUBURN ’ S P OULTRY PROGR A M BOL S TERS FEED PRODUC TION , CURRICULUM
MAY 2, 2017 www.wattagnet.com Quick Link: bit.ly/watt-ag-au
AU B U R N R E S E A RCH E R S A D D R E S S TH E S PR E A D O F AV I A N IN FLU E N Z A According to the USDA, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) the presence of the highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza (HPAI) virus was confirmed in a commercial breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee on March 5 of this year. This first occurrence of the virus in the U.S. for the 2017 calendar year was unsettling news for the poultry industry. Alabama’s response was swift as the State Veterinarian, Tony Frazier, with the support of Commissioner John McMillan, issued a stop movement for certain poultry within the state. “The health of poultry is critically important at this time,” said Dr. Frazier. “With three investigations of avian influenza in north Alabama on three separate premises we feel that the stop movement order is the most effective way to implement biosecurity for all poultry in our state.” The order was later rescinded in April 2017 after extensive testing of commercial and backyard flocks within the surveillance zones yielded no new detections of avian influenza. At Auburn University, faculty in the Department of Poultry Science continue to provide insightful disease research that can help the poultry industry develop procedures and practices that would prevent the spread of pathogens like HPAI in their operations. Collaborating on a project that involves assessing the role of poultry feed, litter beetles, drinking
water and mice on the transmission of avian influenza, Ken Macklin and Joseph Giambrone seek to understand these important factors that may leave flocks vulnerable to the disease. “We examined various environmental factors that could result in the spread of avian influenza virus (AIV),” said Dr. Giambrone, “This work is important because so far this year the low-path LP AIV H7N9 has been found in wild ducks in Montana, Minnesota and Tennessee, and in commercial poultry flocks the southeast.” While this virus represents no threat to human populations, low path avian influenza (LP AIV) can mutate to high path avian influenza (HPAI) within the same flock resulting in high morbidity and mortality for flocks. Warmer weather has pushed wild ducks to migrate north and has also rendered virus has become unstable. However, it is understood that come fall, these ducks will migrate south again, harboring low path avian influenza, which will require more surveillance for the pathogen and improved biosecurity efforts on the farm. In assessing factors that contribute to the spread of these pathogens within a poultry operation, Drs. Giambrone and Macklin are working to pin-point vulnerabilities to better prepare growers in assessing their biosecurity efforts. “Using our laboratory conditions and testing procedures, we can understand the stability of avian influenza in the feed, darkling beetles, drinking water pipes and nipples, and mice,”
Dr. Giambrone said. “In general, the feed and drinking water do not seem to be significant in the spread of AIV, however, the pathogen was stable in darkling beetles for the 5-day experimental period and may be a potential source for transmission of AIV.” “Commercial laboratory mice could be infected and harbor avian influenza 3 days post infection in the respiratory tract, but not the digestive tract,” Dr. Giambrone said. “Their role in viral transmission through infection of the mice would not appear to very significant. However, their role in the mechanical transfer of AIV on the feet of wild mice into a poultry house may still be possible.” Drs. Macklin and Giambrone’s results, in agreement with the USDA recommendations, are that feed should be kept dry, drinking water systems regularly flushed under pressure with approved water sanitizers. Insect and rodent populations should be reduced as much as possible to limit exposure to the pathogens. This research will help Alabama growers assess and respond to the threat of low path avian influenza, which can rapidly mutate int ho high path avian influenza on the same farm. In Alabama, the stakes are high not only on account of poultry industry operations across the state, but because the Mississippi wild waterfowl flyway encompasses Alabama, increasing possible exposure from wild waterfowl.