The Poultry Podcast Show

Coccidiosis is a fatal protozoal disease causing diarrhea, weight loss and decreased performance in poultry. In this episode of the Poultry Podcast Show, join me and Dr. Kelley Wamsley as we engage in a conversation about that critical topic and the available solutions to address this significant issue in the field. Dr. Wamsley and her team conducted a study examining the role of yeast products in...

When it comes to food safety, it's crucial to understand the microorganisms that pose a potential threat. Key players include Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. Coli. When it comes to controlling these harmful organisms, the goal is not only to develop detection methods with higher speed and specificity but also to significantly minimize their presence in poultry products. In this episode, I in...

In Australia, the availability of feed ingredients such as corn and soy for poultry nutrition can be limited and expensive due to their dependence on imports, forcing them to use local ingredients, which often increase the cost of diets. Dr. Amy Moss, an Australian postdoctoral researcher at the University of New England, has led a pioneering initiative investigating processes for the efficient us...

In this episode, join Dr. Ken Macklin and me as we take a journey into his research on litter management, highlighting the approach to reducing pathogen loads in litter. We discuss litter amendments, ammonia control strategies, the pros and cons of the built-up litter system vs. the changing-out system, the evaluation of emerging technologies, previous game-changers in disease prevention in poultr...

Approximately 244,000,000 eggs are set in incubators every week, and the average hatchability reported by the National Agricultural Statistical Service is 79.4%. That means only 79.4% of those eggs are hatching. As we know, this is a crucial productivity factor. Leticia Orellana, our guest, is conducting an in-depth study on hatchability and eggshell quality parameters, such as translucency and co...

Lighting is incredibly important for birds as it affects their behavior, physiology, and overall well-being. Various lighting components, such as light intensity, wavelength, and day length, play a significant role in bird performance and welfare. Properly managing lighting conditions can greatly impact bird health and production outcomes. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Schwean-Lardner about the i...

Microbiology plays a pivotal role in the poultry industry as it ensures the health, welfare, and productivity of poultry. Thus, understanding poultry microbiology is crucial for preventing and controlling infectious diseases and guaranteeing the safety of poultry products for human consumption. In this episode, we delve into a fascinating conversation with Dr. Anuraj Sukumaran, a distinguished exp...

Pasture poultry, a system where birds are raised in open fields, is an emergent and sustainable farming method. It allows the birds to roam freely, forage for insects and plants, and enjoy a more natural lifestyle. However, like any farming practice, pasture poultry has its challenges, one significant concern for farmers being the presence of parasites. In this episode, Dr. Maria Terra-Long discus...

Foodborne illnesses remain a significant public health concern. Therefore, foodborne pathogens from poultry and other food animals must be detected and characterized in order to understand transmission routes, implement prevention strategies, and protect consumer health. To achieve that, monitoring and tracking antimicrobial resistance is essential, since resistant pathogens can cause more severe...

Poultry genetics is a fascinating field that has significantly contributed to agriculture and shown a lot of potential. Every year, breakthroughs in poultry genetics technologies emerge – one such major development has been our ability to investigate the genetics of birds on a larger scale, simultaneously analyzing multiple genes, their structural differences, their variable expressions across tis...

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance makes it imperative to explore alternative strategies of sustainable and responsible poultry farming. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms behind the action of antibiotic alternatives can significantly improve bird gut health and consequently, food safety. In this episode, Dr. Morgan Farnell shares his experience working with avian microbiology and...

One of the primary aspects of the welfare of laying hens is the living conditions in which they are raised. In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the importance of providing hens with adequate space and enriched environments, so alternatives to cage-based housing (such as cage-free, free-range, and enriched colony housing) have emerged. These systems encourage the natural behavior...

Infectious coryza (IC) is a contagious bacterial disease that causes respiratory problems in chickens and hens and can decrease egg production, increase mortality, and decrease poultry growth rates. Considering that it is possible for birds carrying the bacterium to spread it to other susceptible individuals within the flock or to neighboring farms, management practices, biosecurity measures, and...

Poultry plays a vital role in meeting the global demand for protein-rich foods at affordable prices. As the industry continues that growth, conducting research has become essential because advancing knowledge in the area helps the sector address challenges, improve productivity, ensure food safety, and contribute to the sustainable production of affordable, high-quality poultry products. In this e...

Even though the lipids in broiler feeds may be overlooked sometimes, they are an essential aspect of poultry nutrition due to their significant impact on the growth and health of the birds. Indeed, the ratio of different types of fats, such as saturated and unsaturated, can affect the metabolism and body composition of the animals. In this episode, Dr. Sandor Zsarnoczay discusses his experience wo...

In poultry production, engineering has become indispensable to ensuring efficient and sustainable practices. This fact is made evident in the development of environmental control ventilation systems, for example: in poultry houses, these systems optimize air quality, temperature, and humidity, ensuring bird health and productivity. Moreover, technology has also been used to mitigate dust and dry m...

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that infects birds and can also be dangerous to humans. Nevertheless, while it may ruin the poultry industry, disrupting supplies and causing economic losses, there is a solution: vaccination. Vaccines play a critical role in preventing and controlling avian influenza, as they are developed to target specific virus strains and are regularly updated as n...

If students are to be successful, the poultry industry needs education. It provides them with comprehensive understanding of practices, challenges, and opportunities that cover all the critical topics in the field along with allowing them to make informed decisions and apply what they learn in the classroom. In that sense, engagement is a vital aspect of poultry education, one that is achieved thr...

During the past few years, risk assessments for Salmonella in poultry have made significant advances – and that is excellent: as public health risks associated with this foodborne pathogen grow, effective risk management strategies must be identified and implemented. To minimize Salmonella contamination risks, the poultry industry has been examining its current practices and maximizing the use of...

Nutrition plays a vital role in the production of laying hens – and it all begins with pullet nutrition. Providing the birds with a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs from the outset is crucial, and so their feeding program should be tailored according to their age, weight, and production stage. Also, it should never be forgotten that adequate nutrition not only promotes optimal...

The poultry industry faces a constant and significant threat from pathogens. Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites result in decreases in production, higher mortality rates, and substantial economic losses in poultry. Thus, a better understanding of bird microbiota, antimicrobial resistance biology, and alternatives to antimicrobials is necessary to safeguard the health and welfare...

Robotics has revolutionized the broiler farming industry by allowing unprecedented efficiency and precision: from monitoring the health and growth of individual birds to collecting dead animals, those dynamic machines can perform a wide range of tasks. In this episode, Dusty Reynolds discusses the autonomous robotic solution his company has developed to address the additional labor costs, help pou...

The enzyme phytase plays a crucial role in poultry nutrition, since it breaks down phytic acid – a component of most plant-based feed ingredients – as well as releases phosphorus and other nutrients for the birds. Thus, phytase promotes better growth and development for poultry by improving the availability of phosphorus while reducing the amount of it that is excreted in manure. In this episode,...

Teaching can be challenging, especially when it comes to ag-related courses. That is because aside from lecturing, professors must also engage students in hands-on learning experiences, such as laboratory and field work, in order to help them apply their knowledge in the real world. In that sense, communication between educators and their students is essential, as is providing a supportive and inc...

In this new series of The Poultry Podcast Show, we will transport you right into the action and show you what A DAY IN THE LIFE of the main positions on a poultry farm looks like. Is poultry nutrition something you'd like to pursue? Would you like to learn more about the routine, the necessary skills, the challenges, and the opportunities of the area? So this episode is for you: I talk with Dr...