Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Objectives

1. Investigation and development of poultry production systems to improve energy and resource use efficiency. This will include collaborative efforts on feed energy sources for poultry by geographical region, ventilation systems, lighting systems, animal welfare and modeling energy use in poultry systems.

2. Alternative systems and profitability. This collaborative research will encompass characterization and mitigation of air emissions, manure nutrient management, animal welfare (including health), and economic evaluation of alternative poultry production systems.

Methods

Objective 1. Investigation and development of poultry production systems to improve energy and resource use efficiency. This will include collaborative efforts on feed energy sources for poultry by geographical region, ventilation systems, lighting systems, animal welfare and modeling energy use in poultry systems.

Methods

Feed and fuel prices reached historical highs in 2007/2008. The volatility in corn and fuel prices has brought into focus the need to improve energy utilization in the production of poultry meat and eggs. Project participants will examine different ventilation and lighting systems relative to energy consumption, flock productivity and welfare.

Ventilation Manipulations. GA conducted a study to determine what factors affect cross-sectional air velocity distribution in a tunnel-ventilated broiler house. The air velocity profiles that have been studied thus far in poultry housing measures air at one level in the house (sometimes at bird level and sometimes 3-4 ft off the floor). The unique aspect of the current study is to use a cross-sectional air velocity profile to study air movement in tunnel-ventilated poultry houses using a grid of 15 anemometers (ceiling to floor - wall to wall). Air velocity profiles were be taken at the tunnel fan end. The anemometers were connected to a computer so that wind speed could be continuously monitored as the number of fans operating were changed. The airspeed and static pressure were monitored for 15 minute periods for each configuration of fans.

This new method of evaluating air velocity profiles in a house has the potential to give an estimate of the total air movement capacity of the fans in a house. Currently, this can only be achieved using a FANS unit that has to measure one fan at a time taking about one hour per fan. Total air movement capacity could be used to evaluate fan and shutter maintenance as well as differences in fans in commercial settings. If the array provides air movement information comparable to the FANS unit, it is hoped that more research can be accomplished on ventilation in poultry facilities. The information from the current study would be used to educate broiler producers on possible broiler house improvements and management practices that will maximize bird cooling during hot weather. The results will also provide better understanding of the relationship between air movement and static pressure which will allow producers to make informed decisions on future upgrades o new construction.

IN conducted a study that used 90 28-week-old White Leghorns of two strains were used; DXL line individually-selected hens for high productivity and KGB line selected from White Leghorn birds for high group survivability and productivity (kind gentle bird). Hens were randomly paired within the line, and assigned to control (21-25ÚC) or hot (32.-34ÚC) treatment for 14 days. Room humidity was at about 40%. Feed and water was provided at ad libitum and the lighting was 16:8 (L:D) for the whole time. Physical and physiological measures were collected at day 8 and 14 post-treatment. The tissue samples were analyzed using HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography), RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction), and western blot, respectively. Behavior data was collected at day 1, 2, 6, 11, and 13.

Compared to the control birds, the stressed birds 1) had significantly higher core temperature at both week 1 and 2 post-treatment; 2) showed significantly greater amount of open-wing behavior; but KGB birds exhibited greater percent time of panting at day 2, 11 and 13 than DXL birds; 3) had a reduced body weight in DXL birds at both week 1 and 2 but at week 2 only in KGB birds; 4) reduced relative liver weight without genetic differences at both week 1 and 2; 5) reduced relative spleen weight in DXL birds at both week 1 and 2 but at week 1 only in KGB birds; 6) had a greater. Heterophil:Lymphocyte ratio at week 2; 7) increased Toll-like receptor 2 in KGB birds but not DXL birds at week 2; 8) reduced norepinephrine concentrations in both DXL and KGB birds but significant was found in DXL birds only; and 9) reduced concentrations of epinephrine in DXL birds at both week 1 and 2 but increased in KGB birds at week 1. There results indicate that heat stress causes behavioral, physical, and physiological changes in birds. There are genetic variations in heat stress response in the current strains. Genetic selection could be a useful tool in reducing heat stress response in chickens.

Lighting Manipulations. AL conducted a study to determine the effects of lighting programs consistent with the European Union (EU) and National Chicken Council (NCC) on broiler live and processing performance, mobility, and stress response. The lighting programs tested consisted of the following.

An increasing-dim lighting program (23L:1D, 1 to 7 days; 12L:12D, 8 to 14 days; 14L:10D, 15 to 21 days; 17L:7D, 22 to 28 days; 20L:4D, 29 to 35 days; and 23L:1D, 36 to 48 days; 1 FC from 1 to 7 days and 0.25 FC thereafter), meeting NCC photoperiod guidelines and with an intensity commonly used in the US, was compared to an increasing-bright program (23L:1D, 1 to 7 days; 12L:12D, 8 to 14 days; 14L:10D, 15 to 21 days; 16L:8D, 22 to 28 days; 18L:6D, 29 to 45 days; and 23L:1D, 46 to 48 days; 2 FC throughout), and a split dark-bright program (16L:4D:2L:2D, 2 FC throughout), both meeting EU photoperiod and intensity guidelines. The EU guidelines can be satisfied with a 18L:6D light cycle but only 4 hours of darkness in a single block are required. Providing light in the middle of the dark period (as in the split dark-bright program) will allow broilers to feed when their digestive tracts have emptied, because they generally don't feed in the dark and gut transit time is about 4 hours. A 2 hour light period will allow all of the broilers to fill their digestive tracts, given amounts of feeder space provided in the industry. Each lighting program was tested on 4 pens (5 x 12 ft) of 42 male broilers of tray pack and breast yield strains. Live production was characterized by measuring body weights, and feed consumption and conversion at about 6, 20, 34, and 47 d. Uniformities were calculated at 20 and 47 d. Mortalities were recorded daily and necropsied to determine cause of death. The percentage metabolic (due to ascites, sudden death syndrome, and skeletal problems), other (due to other causes), and total mortality were determined. Processing performance was determined from 10 broilers per pen at 48 days. Birds were subjected to a 12 hour feed withdrawal and then processed in the Auburn University Poultry Research Unit processing plant. After processing, carcasses were cut up by commercial deboners. Whole carcass, total breast, fillet, tender, wing, and leg weights and yields were determined. Foot pad lesion scores were also determined at slaughter. Welfare and mobility related measures were determined at about 3 and 7 weeks. These ages are when broilers begin to lose mobility and when mobility is most restricted due to high body weights. Blood was collected from 3 birds per pen and heterophil to lymphocyte ratios determined since it is a commonly used measure of chronic physiological stress. Plasma corticosterone was also determined since it is the most commonly accepted measure of acute physiological stress. Tonic immobility was determined on 3 birds per pen as it is a widely accepted measure of psychological stress or fearfulness. The percentage of birds standing or sitting upon 6 inch (15 cm) high decks (raised perching surfaces modified for broilers) which made up 20% of each pen's area, or decking, and the climbing index (the ratio of feed consumed with feeders over decks for 4 hr following a 12 hr period of feed withdrawal, and the feed consumed without decks for the next 4 hr) were quantified as indicators of mobility. Gait scores were determined and latency-to-lie tests (the length of time birds remained standing when placed in a tub containing 1.5 cm of water) were conducted during week 7 only.

Live Production: Body weights were reduced similarly at 20 and 34 days in the 2 increasing lighting programs relative to the split dark-bright program. Weights were greater in the tray pack strain than the breast yield strain at 6, 20, 34, and 47 days. At 47 days, the interaction between lighting program and strain was significant. The 47 day weight of the tray pack strain was greater than breast yield strain and was unaffected by lighting program. However, the weight of the breast yield strain did not differ from the tray pack strain under the split dark-bright program, while it was significantly reduced by both increasing lighting programs relative to both the split dark-bright program and the tray pack strain. Feed consumption was decreased at 20, 34, and 47 days in the increasing lighting programs relative to the split dark-bright program but was only transiently reduced in the breast yield relative to the tray pack strain at 34 days. Feed conversion was unaffected by lighting program; but, improved at 6, 20, 34, and 47 days in the tray pack relative to the breast yield strain. Feed conversion was influenced by an interaction between lighting program and strain at 47 days. In the breast yield strain feed conversions were consistently elevated (poorer) but uninfluenced by lighting programs; whereas, in the tray pack strain feed conversions were consistently improved (decreased) and this effect was most marked in the decreasing lighting programs. These data demonstrate how compensatory growth allows body weight to recover following it being decreased by reduced feed consumption in response to markedly shorter photoperiods provided during weeks 2 and 3 of increasing lighting programs.

Results of this trial do not demonstrate clear links between the various measures of mobility, walking and standing ability, and foot condition as affected by lighting programs. However, it seems likely that the greater mobility measures in the tray pack strain may have been related to their better footpad condition.

Vocalizations as a Welfare Assessment Tool. CT studied vocalizations as an indicator of bird welfare. Psychological stress in the form of fear results when birds are exposed to the presence of unknown herdsman or stockman, predators or other abrupt intrusions, be they visual or auditory in nature. Chickens straining against mental stressors are liable to be affected health-wise, and will also have a lower hen-day production. Age and breed of the hen influences their responses to stressors and our results indicate that in general the White Leghorn emits a more distinct vocal response to stressors than the ISA red breed. Stress vocalizations can be elicited from chickens under commercial conditions and may be used as an early warning system to alert the producer that something is amiss in the poultry facility, and allowing them to attend to the situation before it leads to a drop in production of loss of animals. A modified Hidden Markov Model can be used to identify and classify these vocalizations with a fairly high accuracy. This model algorithm could be adapted for use as a means of monitoring vocalizations in a commercial poultry facility to notify the producer when a stressful situation is occurring in the chicken house.

Dietary Manipulations. IL conducted a study to determine the effects of feeding low-density diets to Hy-Line W-36 laying hens on production performance. For this study, four hundred and eighty Hy-Line W-36 pullets (18 wk of age) were placed in cages (61 cm wide x 58.4 cm deep; 445.3 cm²/hen) and housed 8 hens per cage; with two adjacent cages of 16 hens equaling one replicate. Each replicate (2 side by side cages) was randomly assigned one of five dietary treatments (6 reps/treatment) with the control diet formulated to meet or exceed the recommended energy and nutrient levels in the 2009 Hy-Line W-36 management guide. The dietary treatments (Diets 1-5) were formulated by changing the nutrient densities of the control diet (100% of recommended nutrient density) to 85, 90, 95, 100, and 105% of recommendations, respectively. The experimental diets were fed in three phases to maximize egg production and egg weights to equal that which is published in the 2009 Hy-Line W-36 management guide. Egg production and mortality were recorded daily and feed consumption was measured every 2 wk. Eggs were collected over a 48-hr period and weighed every 2 wk for determination of egg weight.

At 31 wk of age, egg production of hens fed Diet 1 (85% of control) dropped greatly to 57.6%. Due to production being too low, Diet 1 was discontinued and hens were switched to the control diet (Diet 4). Egg production was stable by 34 wk of age. From 18 to 31 wk of age, diet density had significant linear and quadratic effects on egg production and egg weight. Egg production and weight increased with an increase in diet density for Diets 1 through 4. Hens fed Diet 5 showed a decrease in egg production. Egg mass and feed efficiency increased with an increase in diet density across all diets. Feed intake showed a significant quadratic response with intake increasing over Diets 1 and 2 and decreasing for Diet 5. From 32 to 55 wk of age, diet density had significant linear and cubic effects on egg production. Egg production increased with an increase in diet density for Diets 2 through 4 but decreased when hens were fed a diet with 5% more density than the control. A diet of 85% nutrient density was unable to provide hens with enough nutrients to support egg production, showing that feeding Hy-Line W-36 hens diets formulated to contain lower nutrient density (85% of the control) than recommended may compromise production performance.

IL also conducted a study in which spray-dried bovine plasma protein was fed to laying hens exposed to short-term heat stress conditions. Commercial White Leghorn laying hens of the Hy-Line W-98 strain were used in this study. At 38 wk of age, hens were randomly transferred to two side-by-side environmentally controlled chambers and placed in cages. A total of 192 hens were used in the study. In each chamber 96 hens were housed in 46 X 46 X 46 cm cages (18 X 18 X 18) with 4 hens per cage. This allowed for a cage density of 81 sq. in. per hen. Each chamber contained 8 replicate cages per treatment. Following housing, all hens were fed ad libitum a regular laying hen diet (16% crude protein) and provided with water. In order to test the effect of feeding sprayed-dried plasma in laying hen diets on production performance of hens kept in heat stress and non-HS conditions, hens in both chambers were fed 3 diet treatments. Spray-dried plasma was formulated into diets to provide equal energy, protein, and amino acids. The dietary treatments were 0% plasma (control), 0.75% plasma, and 1.50% plasma. Egg production and mortality were recorded daily for the 5-wk experimental period. For the first wk, with hens at 40 wk of age, both chambers were maintained at 21°C. This was the adjustment period. On d 8, the environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH) in the heat stress designated chamber was increased to a constant 29°C and 60% RH. The other chamber was maintained at 21°C and 60% RH as the control. On d 15, the temperature in the HS chamber was increased to a constant 35°C and 50% RH. These temperature and RH conditions were maintained for 3 wk.

The results of this study showed that hens exposed to the 35°C temperature starting at wk 3 dropped off in egg production by wk 4 and this trend continued into wk 5. The hens fed the control diet supplemented with 0.75% plasma had the lowest egg production of any treatment during wk 4, followed by the hens fed the 1.50% plasma supplemented diet. During wk 5, there was a trend for the hens in the HS chamber and fed the 1.50% plasma diet lay more eggs than hens fed the control or 0.75% plasma diet. A similar trend was noticed for egg weights as was seen with egg production. As one would expect, exposing the hens to a 35°C temperature environment had a negative effect on feed consumption. Overall feed consumption between the hens in the TN conditions produced about a 27% decrease in consumption for all diets during wk 3 to 5. During wk 3, feed consumption dramatically decreased for all hens in the 35°C environment; however, a further reduction in feed consumption did not occur for the hens. Hens in the 35°C environment and fed the 1.50% plasma supplemented diet were significantly more feed efficient than hens fed the control diet in the 35°C environment or those fed the control or 1.50% plasma supplemented diet and exposed to a TN temperature. In this study, exposure of hens to acute severe HS conditions did reduce feed intake, body weight, hen-day egg production, egg weight, and egg mass. In addition, there was 2.1% mortality due to exposure to HS temperatures, while no hens died in the TN temperature treatment in the present study. In addition to the general effect of HS on production performance, this study examined the effect of adding either 0.75 or 1.50% bovine spray-dried plasma protein to the diet. Therefore, the overall results of this study provide further documentation on the deleterious effect of acute HS on laying hen performance. In addition, the supplementation of a laying hen diet with 1.50% bovine spray-dried plasma may improve production performance of laying hens exposed to acute HS conditions.

IA conducted a field verification study was conducted during the period of December 2007 to March 2010. It comparatively evaluates efficacy of three laying-hen diets on gaseous (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and greenhouse gases) emissions and the impact on hen production performance and the production economic efficiency for high-rise layer houses. The three dietary regimens were standard industry diet (Control), a diet containing 10% DDGS, and a diet containing an acidifier ingredient (EcoCal). Each of the three layer houses had approximately 255,000 W-36 hens. A state-of-the-art air emissions monitoring system was used to continuously monitor gaseous concentrations, building ventilation rate, and hence emission rates. Hen production performance data were collected and reported on weekly basis. Manure samples of each house were collected prior to house cleanout and subsequently analyzed by a certified commercial lab for manure nutrients and properties. Data from 24-month monitoring period were used in the analysis. Feeding EcoCal diet or the DDGS diet to laying hens in the high-rise house was shown to have the following impact on gaseous emissions and production performance: a) 39% and 14% overall reduction in NH₃ emissions during the 24-month testing period, with a mean daily NH₃ emission rate of 0.58 ± 0.05, 0.82 ± 0.04, and 0.96 ± 0.05 g d^-1 hen^-1 for the EcoCal, DDGS, and control diet, respectively; b) 202% and 7% overall concomitant increase in H2S emissions, with a mean daily H₂S emission of 5.39 ± 0.46, 1.91 ± 0.13 and 1.79 ± 0.16 mg d^-1 hen^-1 for the EcoCal, DDGS and control diet, respectively (note that the absolute amount of H2S emissions were very small). The efficacy of NH₃ emission reduction by the EcoCal diet decreased with increasing outside temperature, varying from 72.2% in February 2009 to 4.0% in September 2008. Manure of the EcoCal diet contained 68% higher ammonium nitrogen (NH₃-N) and 4.7 times higher sulfur content than the Control diet manure (1.46% on dry matter base). Manure pH values of the three diets were 9.3, 8.9 and 8.0 for Control, DDGS and EcoCal, respectively. Few differences in egg production, egg weight, or egg mass (output) were observed for hens fed EcoCal, DDGS as compared to hens fed the control diet. The cash return from each hen over the 91-wk period averaged $11.88, $11.18, and $12.35 for Control, DDGS and EcoCal regimens, respectively.

MD conducted a study to evaluate the effect of feeding laying hens commercial diets containing 0, 10, or 20% distillers dried grains plus solubles (DDGS) fed to laying hens (21 to 26 wk of age) on emissions of NH₃ and H₂S. Hy-line W-36 hens (n= 640) were allocated, randomly, to 8 environmental rooms for a 5-wk period (hens in 3 rooms were offered the 10% and 20% DDGS diets each; hens in 2 rooms were offered the 0% DDGS diet). Diets were formulated to contain similar CP levels (18.3%), non-phytate P (0.46%), and Ca (4.2%). On an analyzed basis, the 0, 10, and 20% DDGS diets contained 0.22, 0.27, and 0.42% S. Egg weight (50.9 g), egg production (85%), and feed intake (87.9 g/hen/d) were unaffected by diet (P > 0.05) over the study period. Daily NH3 emissions from hens fed diets containing 0, 10, and 20% DDGS were 105.4, 91.7, and 80.2 mg/g N consumed, respectively (P < 0.05). Daily H₂S emissions from hens fed commercial diets containing 0, 10, and 20% DDGS were 2.6, 2.4, and 1.1 mg/g S consumed, respectively. Overall, feeding laying hens 21 to 26 wk-old diets containing 20% DDGS to decreased daily NH₃ emissions by 24% and H₂S emissions by 58%. Each hen emitted approximately 280 mg NH₃ and 0.5 mg H₂S daily when fed a control diet containing 18% CP and 0.2% S. The results of this study demonstrate that 20% DDGS derived from ethanol production can be fed to laying hens resulting in lower emissions of NH₃ and H₂S with no apparent adverse effects on hen performance.

MD also investigated if birds had the capacity to adapt to low P diets. The application of the adaptation principle in poultry may allow for decreasing both diet and excreted P without sacrificing performance and provide an additional low cost tool to decrease P in poultry litter. The goal of this work was to determine if adaptation occurred in broilers and then to try to identify the mechanisms of this adaptation. We evaluated the ability of the chicken to adapt to a moderate early life deficiency in P and Ca and characterized this adaptation changes by examining the impact of the previous P and Ca status (starter phase, hatch to 18 d) on performance, bone characteristics, and nutrients absorption of broilers the grower phase (19 to 32 d).

In summary, broilers fed a diet moderately deficient in P and Ca from hatch to 18 d demonstrated the ability to adapt to the deficiency. This was shown in the increased total P and Ca ileal absorption, the increased PP disappearance, improved growth, and improvement in bone measures including tibia ash, tibia and shank bone mineral density and bone mineral content in a later growth phase (18 to 32 d). These published data indicate that in birds during the period immediately post hatch there is a phenomenon occurring that permanently alters the bird's response to its environment. This adaptation or conditioning, which-ever term you choose to use, is a real observable fact for which no underlying mechanism has been previously proposed.

IA examined different stocking densities (SDs) or space allocations in commercial laying-hen operations as an attempt to improve hen welfare. Information concerning the impact of SD on accumulated manure properties (e.g., moisture content) and thus ammonia (NH3) emissions is limited in the literature. Bird SD affects the amount of manure per unit of accumulated manure surface area, which may affect the NH3 emission from the accumulated manure. A lab-scale study was conducted that resembled the conditions of manure-belt laying-hen houses, with the objectives of (a) determining NH3 emission rate (ER) of W36 pullets and laying hens housed under different SDs; (b) measuring the NH3 emissions from pullet and laying hen manure during 6-d manure accumulation time (MAT); and (c) delineating the dynamics of feed disappearance, manure production and NH3 ER of laying hens during dark and light periods. Two different SD's at a given bird age were evaluated, being that the higher density (HD) had 33% lower per-hen floor area allocation than the lower density (LD). Stocking densities ranged from 155 to 619 cm2 (24 to 96 in2) per bird. Tests were conducted for W36 pullets/laying hens at 4 to 37 weeks of age. Ammonia ER was expressed in the units of NH3 emission per bird, per kg of feed nitrogen (N) disappearance, per kg of as-is and dry manure, and per animal unit (AU, 500 kg BW). Results showed that daily NH3 ER for pullets and laying hens increased exponentially with bird age and MAT (P<0.0001). Stocking density effect on NH3 ER was more pronounced for MAT e 3d, where the treatment HD led to higher ER. Specifically, for the laying hens, NH3 emissions from the 3^rd to 6^th d MAT ranged from 41 to 251 mg/hen-d for HD and from 29 to 160 mg/hen-d for LD. This outcome supports the current egg industry practice of removing manure at 1- to 3-d MAT for the manure-belt house systems. Results also indicated that the SDs did not affect feed disappearance or fresh manure production (P = 0.17 - 0.81) of laying hens. Each gram of feed use corresponded to a 1.15 g of fresh manure production. The light (16 hr) and dark (8 hr) partitioning of daily feed disappearance was 98% to 2%, respectively, while the concomitant partitioning of fresh manure production was 80% and 20%, respectively. This study has been described in an MS thesis and certain results have been disseminated through a conference paper. A manuscript on the study is being prepared for publication consideration in the peer-reviewed journal.

MN examined the unevenness in turkey flocks at market and a study was initiated to determine if differences exist between light and heavy weight poults that could explain the variability. Eight flocks (six commercial flocks and two research flocks) were sampled at 1-wk intervals to 3 wks of age. Poults were weighed and gut and tissue samples were taken for histopathology scores. Gut contents were taken for virus and bacteria tests. Body weight of the research flocks exceeded those of the commercial flocks at 3 wks of age. Remaining tests are yet to be completed on all flocks. Turkeys were fed diets with different sources of distiller's dried grains with soluble that varied in crude fat content. Energy value of the DDGS was influenced by the level of fat and potentially digestibility of lysine.

Objective 2. Alternative systems. This collaborative research will encompass characterization and mitigation of air emissions, manure nutrient management, animal welfare, and economic evaluation of alternative poultry production systems.

IA conducted a study in an effort to collect some baseline information, a study has been initiated that aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of an aviary production system (two houses each holding 50,000 laying hens) for egg production under Midwest conditions over 1-year period. Data collected will include concentrations and emission rates of ammonia (NH₃), particulate matters (PM₁₀, PM_2.5), and greenhouse gases (CO₂, N₂O, CH₄), metabolic rate and its partitioning into sensible and latent heat, electricity and fuel use, air temperature and humidity, animal behaviors (aggression, cannibalism) and welfare (bone strength, feather condition, feet injuries), microbiological quality (incidence of environmental Salmonella), and hen performance (feed use, egg production, feed conversion, mortality). Economic analyses of the operation will be performed using the collected data, considering the capital cost of the infrastructure and different egg-marketing prices. A multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional team is involved to holistically tackle this complex issue. Data collection has been ongoing since June 2010.

NE conducted a study to 1) determine the effects of broiler chick addition on the reduction of early mortality due to starve-outs and 2) determine the effects of providing environmental complexity in the form of ramps, platforms, perches and pecking objects on leg strength of turkey toms.

This experiment was conducted in two phases. Phase one consisted of 248 one-day-old turkey poults and 8 three-day old broiler chicks. Four pens of thirty two turkey poults were set using industry standard techniques for the control groups. Four pens of thirty 1-day-old turkey poults and two 3-day-old broiler chicks were set with no human intervention for the treatment groups. Body weights were taken at placement, 1 and 2 weeks of age. Feed intake was calculated daily. Behavioral analysis was conducted on days 2, 4, 8, and 14 days of age. Behaviors were determining using an instantaneous time sampling technique. The birds were recorded for eight consecutive hours, videos were stopped and observations were recorded at 15 min intervals. All visible birds were recorded as to what behavior they were performing at the time the video was stopped. Behavior categories were eating, drinking, active and resting. Definitions of each category were as follows: eating- time spent within one inch of feeder and standing; drinking- time spent within one inch of waterer and standing; active-a bird that was standing, moving or interacting with a pen mate while standing; resting-a bird that was laying down with no discernable movement.

Phase two began immediately following phase one. The draft shields were removed from the pens to allow poults to have access to 114 ft² area (3.5 ft₂/ bird). In four pens, an enrichment containing two adjustable ramps and a platform to perch on was placed in the center of the pen. One feeder was placed on the top of the enrichment and another feeder was placed on the floor opposite the drinker. The remaining four pens remained barren except for two feeders and drinkers. Body weights were taken at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age. Feed intake was calculated weekly. Gait scores were conducted at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age. Gait scores were determined using a scale ranging from 3 to 1. Score 3 represented no detectable impairment of walking and able to run when encouraged, a score 2 indicated a slight abnormality in walking pattern and a hesitation to run and a score of 1 indicated a severe abnormality in walking pattern and refused to run. Behavioral measurements were taken at 5, 10 and 15 weeks of age to determine the type of use of the enrichment and frequency of enrichment use. Behaviors were determined using an instantaneous time sampling technique. The birds were recorded for eight consecutive hours, videos were stopped and observations were recorded at 15 min intervals. All visible birds were recorded as to what behavior they were performing at the time the video was stopped. Behavior categories were: eating on enrichment, active on enrichment, resting on enrichment, eating on floor, drinking on floor, active on floor and resting on floor. At 20 weeks of age 10 birds from each pen were euthanized. Bone quality will be determined with TD scores, bone ash, tibial length and diameter measurements.

No significant treatment differences were observed for feed intake and mortality during phase I. Body weights tended to be greater at 7 days of age for the broiler enriched groups (P<.1097). Preliminary behavioral results suggest that with broiler addition, poults spend equal time eating, drinking, active and resting as traditionally raised birds. It could be concluded from these results that broiler addition to a flock of poults could minimize human intervention in the setting process saving time and money for the producers.

NC conducted a study to provide an unbiased comparison of the performance of the white-egg and the brown-egg entries for use by North Carolina egg producers in their ordering of replacement stocks, and for the entrant breeding organizations in the evaluation of where their stocks stand relative to their competition. The components of this study include Cage Free and Cage production in order to achieve the overarching objectives that include:

a) House 2 a blackout floor brood grow containing 24 pens (12 x 18').
b) House 8 with quad-deck 24" wide x 26" deep cages and fluorescent lights.

1) To compare the performance of strains of white or brown-egg layers when housed as follows:

a) House 2 which will be divided into 24 slat litter pens (12' x 18') at a density of 144 in² at a population of 216 hens/pen.
b) House 4 containing 216 replicates containing 5 birds/cage in 24" x 16" cages at a density of 77 in², or 7 birds/cage in 32" x 16" cages at a density of 73 in².
c) House 5 containing 252 replicates containing 5 birds/cage in 24" x 16" cages at a density of 77 in², or 7 birds/cage in 32" x 16" cages at a density of 73 in².

2) Examination of non fasting molt programs.

a) Evaluate hen's productivity after a molt, based upon percent weight loss and post-molt production period performance.

i) Single Cycle Flocks (Cage, Cage Free and Range)
ii) Molted flocks (2 cycles)

b) Determine if population/density has an effect on the molting programs effectiveness.
c) Evaluate the response of the hens to the molt program based on their behavioral modifications.

3) Evaluate the impact of leaving hens with intact beaks vs. beak trimming the hens in cages
4) Examine the performance of each strain when reared on a litter floor with roosts in a controlled brood-grow house.
5) Compare the performance of strains to be used in cage free or range settings with brown-egg layers when housed at similar densities in the range hut at 144 in² and range area 86.5 ft² equivalents using a population of 75 birds/paddock as Single Cycle Flocks to 80 to 84 wk of age.

Publications

AL
Lien, R. J., J. B. Hess, and S. F. Bilgili, 2010. Influence of increasing-dim and bright, and split-dark-bright lighting on broiler mobility and stress. Poultry Sci. 89(E-Suppl. 1):308.

Lien, R. J., J. B. Hess, and S. F. Bilgili, 2010. Effects of increasing-dim and bright, and shorter-bright split-dark lighting on broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 89(Suppl. 1):in press.

CT
Johny, A. Kollanoor, M. J. Darre, A. M Donoghue, D. J. Donoghue and K. Venkitanarayyanan. 2010. Antibacteral effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, carvacol, and thymol on Salmonella Enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni in chicken cecal contents in vitro. J. Appl Poult Res 19:237-244 doi:10.3382/japr 2010-00181.

Otu-Nyarko, Ebenezer. 2010. The Effect of Stress on the Vocalizations of Captive Poultry Populations. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Connecticut.

Yao Ren, Michael T. Johnson, Patrick J. Clemins, Michael Darre, Sharon Stuart Glaeser,Tomasz S. Osiejuk and Ebenezer Out-Nyarko. 2009. A Framework for Bioacoustic Vocalization Analysis Using Hidden Markov Models. Algorithms: 2(4), 1410-1428.

IL
S.A. dePersio, K.W. Koelkebeck, C.M. Parsons, P.L. Utterback, C.W. Utterback, N.O. Sullivan, K. Bregendahl, and J. Arango. 2010. Effects of feeding low-density diets to Hy-Line W-36 laying hens on production performance. Poult. Sci. 89(E-Suppl. 1):667.

IN
Mashaly, M.M., G.L. Hendricks 3rd, M.A. Kalama, A.E. Gehad, A.O. Abbas, and P.H. Patterson. 2004. Effect of heat stress on production parameters and immune responses of commercial laying hens. Poult Sci. 83:889-94.

St-Pierre, N.R., B. Cobanov, and G. Schnitkey. 2003. Economic Losses from Heat Stress by US Livestock Industries. J. Dairy Sci. 86::E52E77.

IA
Gates, R.S., K.D. Casey, H. Xin, and R.T. Burns. 2009. Building emissions uncertainty estimates. Transactions of the ASABE 52(4): 1345-1351.

Green, A.R., I. Wesley, D. W. Trampel, and H. Xin. 2009. Air quality and hen health status in three types of commercial laying hen houses. J. App. Poult. Res. 18(3): 605-621.

Green, A.R. and H. Xin. 2009. Effects of stocking density and group size on heat and moisture production of laying hens under thermoneutral and heat challenging conditions. Transactions of the ASABE 52(6): 2027-2032.

Green, A.R. and H. Xin. 2009. Effects of stocking density and group size on thermoregulatory responses of laying hens under heat challenging conditions. Transactions of the ASABE 52(6): 2033-2038.

Huang, Y., Dong, H., B. Shang, and H. Xin, and Z. Zhu. 2010. Characterization of animal manure and cornstalk ashes as affected by incineration temperature. Applied Energy 88(2011): 947-952.

Li, H. and H. Xin. 2010. Lab-scale assessment of gaseous emissions from laying-hen manure storage as affected by physical and environmental factors. Transactions of the ASAE 53(2): 593-604.

Li, H., H. Xin, S. Li, and R.T. Burns. 2009. Technical Notes: Upstream vs. downstream placement of FANS to determine fan performance in situ. Transactions of the ASABE 52(6): 2087-2090.

Liang, Y., G.T. Tabler, S.E. Watkins, H. Xin and I.L. Berry. 2009. Energy use analysis of open-curtain vs. totally enclosed broiler houses in northwest Arkansas. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 25(4): 577-584.

Muhlbauer R.V., T.A. Shepherd, H. Li, R.T. Burns, H. Xin. 2010. Development and application of an induction-operated current switch for monitoring fan operation. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 26(6): ??

Trabue, S.L., K.D. Scoggin, H. Li, R.T. Burns, H. Xin, and J.L. Hatfield. 2010. Speciation of volatile organic compounds from poultry production. Atmospheric Environment (in press)

Xin, H., R.S. Gates, A.R. Green, F.M. Mitloehner, P.A. Moore, Jr. and C.M. Wathes. 2010. Environmental impacts and sustainability of egg production systems. Poultry Science (doi:10.3382/ps.2010-00877)

Xin, H., H. Li., Burns, R.S. Gates, D.G. Overhults, and J.W. Earnest. 2009. Use of CO2 concentration or CO2 balance to assess ventilation rate of commercial broiler houses. Transactions of the ASABE 52(4): 1353-1361.

MD
Wu-Haan, W., W. J. Powers, C. R. Angel, and T. J. Applegate.  2010. The use of distillers dried grains plus soluble as a feed ingredient on performance and air emissions from laying hens.  Poult. Sci. 89:1355-1359.

Ashwell, C.M., and R. Angel. 2010. Early life nutritional conditioning with dietary phosphorus. ADSA-PSA Joint Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA. July 11-15, 2010.

Applegate, T.J., C. Romero, M.E.B. Abdalllh, R. Angel, and W. Powers. 2010. Effect of dietary adipic acid and dried distillers grains plus solubles in combination with post-excretion amendment with sodium bisulfite on nitrogen loss from stored laying hen excreta. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 88, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 93, E-Suppl. 1/Poult. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1. Abstract W319.

Arkansas Nutrition Conference. Nutrition imprinting: Early diet manipulation. Rogers, Arkansas, September 8-10, 2009.

Midwest Poultry Federation Convention. Early nutritional imprinting in broilers: What we know and its applications. St. Paul, MN, March 16-18, 2010.

Multi-State Poultry Feeding and Nutrition Conference and DSM Technical Symposium. Proteases in poultry nutrition, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 26, 2010.

MN
S. L. Noll, K. Koch, and J. Brannon, 2010. Crude glycerin in market turkey diets. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 88, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 93, E-Suppl. 1/Poult. Sci. Vol. 89 (E-Suppl. 1):656

NE
Weber, P. and S.E. Scheideler.  The effects of social and environmental enrichments on the welfare of tom turkeys.  Proceedings of the meeting of  International Society of  Animal Ethology, Uppsala, Sweden, August. 2010. Genre: Other Category: Research/Creative Activity   Scope:  International  

NC
Anderson, K.E. 2010. Effects of Dietary Regimens and Brown-Egg Pullet Strain on Growth and Development. Int. J.of Poultry Sci. 9: 205-211.

Anderson, K. E., 2010. Report on Pullet Rearing Period: 38th North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test. Vol. 38, No. 2, July 2010.

Anderson, K. E., 2010. Hatch and Serology Report of the Thirty Eighth North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test: Summary. Vol. 38, No. 1, February 2010.

Anderson, K. E., 2010. Range Egg Production, is it better than in Cages?, 2010 Midwest Poultry Federation Convention, Touchstone Energy®Place at River Center, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 16-18, 2010, CD proceeding.

Anderson, K.E. 2010. Small Farm Egg Production, Small Farm Conference, West Virginia University, Extension Service, Small Farm Center, March 3, 2010. Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa, 1 Lakeview Dr., Morgantown, WV 26508.

Anderson, K. E., 2009. A Comparative examination of rearing parameters for brown egg-type pullets grown for either range or cage production. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 170, pp.

Anderson, K. E., 2009. Comparison of nutrient composition in eggs from hens housed in cage vs. range production facilities. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 225, pp.

Anderson, K. E., 2009. Final Report of the Thirty Seventh North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test. Vol. 37, No.5.October, 2009.

Arbona, D. V., J. B. Hoffman, and K. E. Anderson, 2009. A comparison of production performance between caged and free-range Hy-Line Brown Layers. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 255P, pp.

Gast, R. K., D. R. Jones, K. E. Anderson, R. Guraya, J. Guard-Bouldin, and P. S. Holt, 2009. Penetration of Salmonella enteritidis through the yolk membrane in eggs from six genetically distinct commercial lines of laying hens. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 103, pp.

J. B. Hoffman, Arbona, D. V., and K. E. Anderson, 2009. A comparison of humoral function in response to a killed Newcastle vaccine challenge in caged vs. free-range Hy-Line Brown Layers. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 174, pp.

Jones, D. R., K. E. Anderson, and M. T. Musgrove, 2010. Comparison of environmental and egg microbiology associated with conventional and free range laying hen management. Poultry Science 89:(Submitted).

Kerth, L. K., P. A. Curtis, and K. E. Anderson. 2009. Functionality and composition of eggs from layers housed in cage or range environments. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 227, pp.

P. A. Curtis, Kerth, L. K., and K. E. Anderson. 2009. Impact of cage versus free-range environments on the color and egg products. Poultry Sci. Suppl. 88: Abstract # 226, pp.