ANIMAL AND POULTRY SCIENCES RESEARCH PROGRAM

• About

  • The purpose of the Animal and Poultry Sciences research program at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ is to utilize basic and applied scientific approaches to address challenges in animal sciences and related areas as to promote the efficient production of quality animal and poultry products by using humane animal practices

• Research Goals

  • A wide variety of livestock and poultry, companion and other animals are used in our research programs.  Primary research goals of the program include 1)  elucidating molecular mechanisms associated with processes associated with nutrition, reproduction, breeding and genetics, growth/protein production, and animal health that benefit animal agriculture, veterinary medicine and human medicine; 2) determining the effects of animal production systems on the surrounding environment and its effect on animal production systems as a basis for the development new and enhancement of existing sustainable production practices, particularly those that promote positive economic impacts in livestock and poultry enterprises, with an emphasis on poultry, cattle and small ruminants, particularly goats; and 3) the development of new food and fiber products with an emphasis on food safety concerns.

• Research Foci

  • The Animal and Poultry Sciences Research program is very diverse, with investigations in key focus areas of animal sciences, with animal agriculture at its center, and these areas are of priority to our stakeholders, international, national, regional and location, including limited resource producers and beyond as they interface with areas of biomedical and environmental relevance.  The areas include: 
    • Breeding and Genetics
    • Meat Science (with an emphasis on Meat Quality and Food Safety)
    • Microbiology (of the Rumen)
    • Nutrition (Non-ruminant and Ruminant, including aspects of Forage Agronomy and Pasture Management)
    • Parasitology
    • Physiology
    • Poultry Production (Conventional & Pasture)
    • Reproductive Physiology
    • Silvopasture/Agroforestry

• Facilities & Other ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ

  • Large and small animal handling facilities that support livestock, companion animals, rodents and more, are located in the campus in addition to laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Funding for research is primarily from state, industry and federal sources. Our vast Information and Communication Technology tools allow the continuous monitoring of farm animals and dissemination of research results. As the primary entity in the state that addresses the needs of Black-Belt farmers’ animal agriculturists, we are recognized as regional leaders in animal and poultry sciences. Our research, teaching, and/or extension program faculty publish numerous scholarly works each year and are author millions of dollars in research grants that support the current research program.

• Students & Other Trainee Involvement

  • A Undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as well as visiting scientists have unique opportunities to train and conduct research under the supervision of and in collaboration with a cadre of excellent faculty with diverse expertise, as indicated below.  Persons interested in working with any of these individuals are encouraged to contact them for details, as opportunities for thesis and non-thesis training in each of these areas are available

• Faculty

  • Olga  Bolden-Tiller (Reproductive Physiology):
  •  Chukwuemeka Okere (Physiology, Breeding and Genetics)
  • Wendell  McElhenney (Breeding and Genetics, Biostatistics)
  • Nar Gurung (Silvopasture, Agroforestry, Nutrient Management, Meat Quality)
  • Uma Karki (Forages and grazing land ecology, sustainable animal production, animal health, agroforestry, silvopasture, woodland grazing, animal behavior & welfare)
  • B. Ryel Min (Rumen Microbiology, Forage Agronomy, Parasite Management)
  • Jannette Bartlett (Poultry Production, Poultry Nutrition, Meat Quality).