Poultry science giving priorities

Named endowed professorships would assist the College of Agriculture in creating appropriate levels of support to retain and reward exceptional faculty in poultry science. There are currently no other endowed professorships in poultry science, aside from the one supported by Aviagen for live production research. Support from other major poultry companies for additional named professorships will not only elevate the department's stature but also help attract high-caliber candidates for future faculty positions across all fields of poultry research, including poultry genetics, production, processing, product development, and packaging. The named professorships could be used to recognize a stellar professor already part of the department, or to attract accomplished scientists to the department faculty. Currently, several mid-career faculty members in the department are eligible for promotion to full professor. The department’s goal is to secure 4 named professorships within the next two years.

Processing Plant Retrofitting ($480,000)

The processing plant at the Miller Center is not currently inspected by either the USDA or the state, as the existing processing line is not suitable for this purpose. The products are sent to a rendering plant, since they cannot be sold for human consumption. Retrofitting the processing line to include inspection stations, an inside-outside carcass wash, and a pathogen intervention point will be necessary for us to obtain an inspected facility license. Once this is accomplished, we can start selling products that generate revenue to offset the plant's operational costs. The revenue generated will also support hiring a processing crew, enabling us to increase the frequency of processing events and steadily serve our industry clients.

Septic Tank ($150,000), Parking Lot ($110,000), and Road Paving ($190,000) Projects

The septic tank in front of the administration building is insufficient to handle the volume of waste. There is a pressing need to increase its capacity. This project must be completed before the parking lot can be expanded. The current parking lot size is insufficient to accommodate traffic, particularly on days when workshops and training are held. Workshop attendees must park on the grass, which creates a messy situation on rainy days. We would also like to pave the road from Auburn Lakes Road to the administration building. 

Installing HVAC Systems in Poultry Houses ($520,000)

The feed rooms in the six poultry houses currently lack HVAC systems. Consequently, these rooms do not provide ideal working conditions for students, staff, and faculty, particularly during extreme weather. Also, feed stored in these rooms when live-bird experiments are in progress is exposed to unfavorable temperature and humidity conditions.

Near-Infrared (NIR) Machine for the Feed Mill ($90,000)

An NIR machine is used for rapid, on-site analysis of raw materials and finished feeds to ensure quality and optimize production. The machine can analyze key nutritional components such as moisture, protein, fat, and fiber within seconds, allowing for immediate adjustments to formulations and preventing costly errors. NIR technology can also help verify ingredient authenticity and identify impurities.

The department requires a new facility at the Miller Center dedicated exclusively to teaching. The recent Academic Program Review of our department identified areas requiring strengthening. The review committee felt that our undergraduate students need more exposure to different types of poultry. This demonstration facility will also be a dedicated space where industry experts can share their knowledge with students. Furthermore, this facility will feature a collaborative space that serves as an innovation hub for poultry science students, where they can test their creative ideas.