Monday, April 12, 2004Delaware research lab focuses on poultry production
NEWARK, Del. -- Truth be told, the building does not look like anything special. It is a pitched roof structure, wrapped in sage green siding. It sits back from the main cluster of buildings at the Research and Education Center in Georgetown, surrounded by three rows of trees and adjoins wetlands. If you were not sure of the building's purpose from the outside, you are soon as you step inside. Bright red feeders and bright yellow water devices let you know that you are inside a poultry house. But this is no ordinary chicken coop, thanks to a partnership among the poultry industry, the state and the University of Delaware. This is the new Jones-Hamilton Environmental Poultry and Demonstration House, a computerized facility for studying all facets of broiler production. It will serve as a laboratory for air quality and enhanced litter studies, a testing ground for environmental solutions, an experiment in establishing good-neighbor policy and a distance-learning center for college and high school students. "With this house, our goal is to grow the healthiest broilers at the lowest cost to the producer," University of Delaware Cooperative Extension poultry specialist George (Bud) Malone said. "The new facility will help to prove the feasibility of practices under real world conditions, making a model of best management practices on a working poultry operation. In the end everyone wins -- growers with improved bottom line and consumers with a better quality chicken at a reasonable price." Computers and sensors will be used to monitor conditions -- such as temperature, humidity and air quality -- and adjust the variables to establish the best growing environment. Scientists will evaluate how well tree windbreaks around the poultry house filter air from exhaust fans to reduce noise, odor, feathers and dust. Researchers also will study ways to reduce ammonia emissions. This is particularly important as residential developments move into areas once devoted to agriculture. Litter quality will be another important focus of study at the facility. Jones-Hamilton, a litter amendment company, partially funded the construction of the facility with a gift of $70,000; the state of Delaware funded equipment and instruments for the structure. Delaware and Jones-Hamilton will use the facility for independent research as well as for collaborative projects. Environmental research at the facility will focus on tree barriers and waste runoff from poultry houses and the impact on soil and water. To assist in these environmental quality studies, the poultry house was constructed on a slight elevation to facilitate water drainage into wetlands, which also provides wildlife habitat. Trees were planted around the perimeter for long-term assessment on how effective trees are in filtering air from exhaust fans. Malone is enthusiastic about yet another aspect of the new facility -- its educational component. According to the poultry specialist, local community college students will be involved in managing the high-tech house. "We're very excited about the educational opportunity that this facility provides. Using a remote computer-controlled system, students will be able to monitor air quality, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide and ammonia emissions in the house right from their classrooms," Malone said. The students will be able to monitor the feeding dishes and watering devices, which are automated to move up and down, depending on the side of the birds. This article is drawn from the University of Delaware College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Outreach publication.
Originally published Monday, April 12, 2004
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