Purdue University’s Department of Animal Sciences has been awarded $1.4 million in grants from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to advance research in the field of animal welfare within poultry production. This significant funding boost aims to contribute to the improvement of poultry welfare practices, ultimately enhancing the well-being of birds in the industry. The announcement of the grants was made through a press release by the college.
Marisa Erasmus, an Associate Professor of Animal Sciences, is set to receive $793,000 over a span of four years to lead research focused on elevating the welfare of laying hens in the face of challenges posed by the northern fowl mite parasite. This parasitic infestation can have detrimental effects on the health and comfort of laying hens. The project led by Erasmus aims to delve into potential solutions to mitigate the impact of the parasite on hens’ welfare. The collaborative effort involves Luiz Brito, Associate Professor of Animal Sciences at Purdue, and Amy Murillo, Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside. By partnering with Hy-Line International, the research team seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the varying responses of hens to mite infestations, with the ultimate goal of developing genetic approaches to combat the issue.
Gregory Fraley, who holds the Terry and Sandra Tucker Endowed Chair of Poultry Science at Purdue, has been granted $647,000 for his project. His research will concentrate on enhancing poultry welfare by deepening the understanding of the visual systems of ducks. The project aims to explore how lighting conditions impact the well-being and behavior of ducks, contributing to the broader knowledge of optimizing the living conditions for these birds. Industry leaders in the poultry sector, namely Maple Leaf Farms and Culver Duck, are partnering with Fraley in this endeavor.
These grants are part of a larger allocation of $7.5 million distributed among 11 universities and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The funding underscores the importance of animal welfare research in the agricultural sector and supports efforts to improve the living conditions and overall health of animals in the industry.
In addition to the poultry welfare grants, researchers at Purdue University were also awarded $1.4 million in June for projects addressing health concerns in cattle and swine. This highlights the university’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and practices in the field of animal agriculture, ultimately benefiting both animals and the industry as a whole.
