Faculty members from Purdue University's Department of Animal Sciences have been awarded $1.4 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. These grants will support research projects aimed at safeguarding animal welfare in poultry production, a crucial sector for the U.S. and Indiana economies.
Associate Professor Marisa Erasmus has been granted $793,000 to enhance laying-hen welfare by addressing the northern fowl mite, a parasitic pest. Her team is collaborating with experts from Purdue and the University of California, Riverside, as well as Hy-Line International, a leading egg-laying hen breeder.
Gregory Fraley, the Terry and Sandra Tucker Endowed Chair of Poultry Science, has received $647,000 to explore how a better understanding of the visual system in ducks can improve their welfare. Fraley's research aims to eliminate unwanted behaviors and productivity losses in the duck industry.
These projects will contribute valuable insights to the poultry industry, ensuring better animal welfare and sustainable agricultural practices.
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Categories: Indiana, Livestock, Poultry