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National Poultry Extension Workshop |
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virgnia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Correspondence: 1 Corresponding author: cnovak{at}vt.edu
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SUMMARY |
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 TOP SUMMARY DISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONSREFERENCES AND NOTES |
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Key Words: future • niche market • food safety • animal welfare • environment • training
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DISCUSSION |
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TOPSUMMARYDISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONSREFERENCES AND NOTES |
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The Future of Extension
The future of extension as we know is changing rapidly and is only a fraction of what it once was. The way we do business is very different from the past and will be different 10 yr from now as a result of department consolidations, reduction of extension agents and specialists, and Internet and other new technologies to relay information to interested persons.
Since 1914, extension programs have been funded through a partnership that includes county, state, and federal funds. Since 1996, total federal funding from Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) for extension has increased 4% from $427.75 million to $445.63 million in 2005 [1]. Due to inflation, US price levels have risen 22% during the same time period [2]. State budgets have served as the main funding source for extension programming, but due to reductions in tax revenues and increases in health care costs recently, budgets have been steady or in some cases decreased. Some relief has come from an increase in county expenditures to support local extension offices, but with only 20% being provided from the county level, it is questionable that this can override current or future shortfalls. Due to current circumstances, extension programs are pursuing strategies to diversify their funding portfolio. The Extension Committee on Policy and the Administrator of USDA-CSREES has appointed a task force to review funding alternatives. A draft report has been submitted and will be considered [3]. The future funding may come from grants and contracts, user fees, and multistate programming, which are currently being evaluated or carried out by current extension programs as was noted by persons from Louisiana State University and Virginia Tech.
Niche Markets
Niche markets, including large cooperatives that have developed in the last few years across the nation, have been the haven of the small producer. Over the years, niche markets have claimed that our land grant universities and government researchers have mostly ignored them. These markets are now viewed as growth opportunities by some large integrators. These niche markets, although a very appealing venture, have their challenges. Extension personnel are on the front lines in all of these issues and will play a significant role in defining the direction and resolution of these issues.
Since the development and implementation of the National Organic Program in 2002, organic poultry production has been highly regulated. The current program explains production methods, feeding guidelines, and processing and marketing requirements to claim the product is organic. It is common to use synthetic methionine in today’s commercial poultry feeds, but its use in organic poultry production has been debated. There is no question as to the synthetic nature of the methionine compounds, but there are differing opinions as to the effect of its removal from poultry diets on performance and livability. Currently there is a limited available ingredient base, and the removal of methionine is not feasible at this time. The Methionine Task Force was created under the Livestock Committee of the Organic Trade Association to identify and evaluate potential feed and production alternatives, which would allow the production of poultry without supplemental methionine. Methionine is currently allowed in organic poultry production systems but will not be allowed after October 1, 2008, unless research dictates otherwise.
Food Safety
The Sierra Club and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) has claimed that consumers could reduce their exposure to antibiotic-resistant microorganisms by purchasing poultry products that are raised without antibiotics [4]. Researchers at the University of Minnesota and others have evaluated the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter isolated from carcasses that were produced without antibiotics. Salmonella and Campylobacter were isolated from a number of carcasses and were reported to have resistance to certain antibiotics tested. The production of poultry without antibiotics will continue to affect poultry performance, livability, gut health, and food safety until alternative programs are developed.
Processing plants work hard to reduce bacterial contamination of carcasses and will continue to do so in the future as new products and technologies are developed. In addition, companies will have to examine production areas of the company to further reduce bacterial contamination of our meat supply. Last, a major issue for poultry producers is that of animal identification and how it will be implemented for large and small poultry producers including the backyard and youth flocks.
Animal Welfare
Major issues affecting the poultry industry in regard to animal welfare are molt procedures, welfare audits, and use of animal byproducts in poultry feeds. The use of molting programs utilizing feed withdrawal is under extreme pressure by animal activists. The United Egg Producers (UEP) took the initiative to commission a number of universities to evaluate alternatives to current molting procedures. Full feeding molting procedures utilizing diets with no added salt or diets containing reduced energy and protein are being evaluated. Programs evaluated thus far have been successful. As of January 1, 2006, only full-fed molting procedures can be used as dictated by the UEP, which affects greater than 80% of the egg industry. In addition, animal welfare audits are here to stay, but what do they all mean and are all of the processes created equal?
Feeding animal byproducts is also an animal welfare concern that affects the poultry industry. Feeding ruminant byproducts may be an issue due to questions related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy contamination and the subsequent impact on human health. Additionally, if the current practice of feeding animal byproducts is halted, what can be done with all the byproducts?
Environment
Although water quality continues to be a major concern for animal agriculture, air quality has become similarly important. But, how do we quantify ammonia emissions from our current poultry housing systems when there are doubts concerning current methods accuracy, portability, ruggedness, and cost? A number of strategies developed and evaluated to reduce ammonia emissions and phosphorus pollution were discussed in detail during the workshop.
Of great importance for all regulatory initiatives is the absolute requirement for a strong basis in objective repeatable research. Societal concerns and how we can approach the development of creative solutions based on honesty and mutual respect are major issues for animal agriculture.
Biosecurity and Agro-Terrorism
Biosecurity is directly tied to environmental and health issues. Management of catastrophic animal mortality may be accomplished using several procedures, with an important one being composting. With new procedures for euthanasia, such as use of fire fighting foam being developed, the role of extension becomes even more important in disseminating this information to service personnel and live production managers in addition to regulatory agencies. Terrorism-based or natural spread of disease (e.g., fomites such as shared equipment between farms or dust from live-haul vehicles; vectors such as people, pets, or pests) may result in extensive disease spread. The absence of good biosecurity measures facilitates the spread of disease from all sources. This year’s workshop took the train-the-trainer approach in regard to agro-terrorism. Who are the first responders in such an event, where do our products go, and is the Eden Network in place yet? All are questions that need answers so that we are prepared in the future.
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CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS |
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TOPSUMMARYDISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONSREFERENCES AND NOTES |
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REFERENCES AND NOTES |
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TOPSUMMARYDISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONSREFERENCES AND NOTES |
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