Poultry Science

The Department of Poultry Science conducts research on the complete life cycle of poultry from the egg through the adult bird. Scientists conduct experiments to improve poultry processing and the quality of meat. Other studies examine feed alternatives, vaccines and bedding materials. Researchers also study game bird species.

To learn more please visit https://www.poultry.msstate.edu/

Automated Gathering
Automated Gathering

McDonald's, Wendy's, and Walmart are just a few of the hundreds of corporations who have vowed to switch to cage-free eggs in the not-so-distant future. Because of the grow...
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Beating bacteria
Beating bacteria

Approximately 2 million individuals in the U.S. contract foodborne illnesses from Salmonella and Campylobacter. While the first line of defense against th...
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Biotics to the Rescue
Biotics to the Rescue

MAFES scientist Dr. Pratima Acharya Adhikari, an associate professor in poultry science, is investigating the use of probiotic additives to poultry feed as a means of redu...
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Down the Line
Down the Line

730 million broilers were raised on Mississippi farms in 2015. MAFES researchers hope to discover more efficient, cost-effective ways to deliver feed to so many birds. That...
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Fowl Play
Fowl Play

MAFES scientists are studying how to prevent the spread of Campylobacter jejuni, a common foodborne pathogen found in poultry, by looking at the bird's GI tract. ...
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Protecting the Surface
Protecting the Surface

Of the many suspects that cause food safety issues in kitchens and food processing plants, biofilms, caused by bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salm...
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Q&A with David Peebles
Q&A with David Peebles

Poultry was a $3.2 billion dollar business in Mississippi in 2015. MAFES scientists conduct research that drives that industry forward. One such researcher is Dr. David Pee...
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Q&A with Drs. Christy Bratcher and Ken Macklin
Q&A with Drs. Christy Bratcher and Ken Macklin

Last year, MAFES welcomed two new department heads: Dr. Christy Bratcher, Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Dr. Ken Macklin, Poultry Science. They share with MAFES readers th...
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Saving the Sausage
Saving the Sausage

MAFES scientists study pork sausage to identify harmful bacteria that can grow in packaged meats. Researchers hope to find a way to extend the shelf life of pork sausage. ...
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Unlocking a path to probiotics in poultry
Unlocking a path to probiotics in poultry

MAFES researchers are trying to unlock a better path for administering probiotics in poultry. Researchers hope bioluminescence will illuminate the effectiveness of a suite ...
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