PoultryCast Update

Poor feed quality will likely play a role in industry productivity throughout the United States in the coming months. The Poultry Science Association warns nutritionists who rely on bushel weight as a prime factor for assessing quality may be missing an important part of the quality-evaluation picture.

“Adverse growing conditions and the potential for reduced bushel weight are one component of the corn quality equation. Unfortunately, determining a precise relationship between variability in bushel weight and the nutritional value of corn is problematic,” said Dr. Mike Lilburn, a poultry nutritionist in The Ohio State University’s Department of Animal Sciences.

In our last update we referred you to the Slaughter Bill (U.S. House Bill 1549) as a major fight in the making. Just this week, livestock and poultry health professionals joined forces to share industry issues with Capitol Hill legislators and staffer.

We continue to bring you conversations from IPE-IPSF as we talk with presenters following research highlighted at this important industry gathering. Good information for nutritionists given our recent interview with NCSU Grad Student Meghan Schwartz to discuss the effectiveness of enzyme use in broiler diets with and without DDGs. That follows on conversations about mycotoxins and phosphorus content variations in grain related to soil types and points of origination.

It’s the biggest week of the year with the International Poultry Scientific Forum and the International Poultry Expo running Monday through Friday (January 25-29) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. PoultryCast will be uploading presentations and conversations from IPE-IPSF in the days to come.

The New Year starts off with hope of improved profitability and less volatility… OK, I said ‘hope’.

The industry show season is quickly approaching as we gear up for the International Poultry Expo and Scientific Symposium in Atlanta. That show is co-located with the American Feed Industry Association International Feed Expo and conference at the World Congress Center. That’s a combination that makes sense and has contributed to attendance.

We’re also hearing of additional interest in grain quality with much of the mid-western corn crop showing signs of mold and the attending toxin issues. If you’re not using binders, it may be a good year to discuss options with your vet/nutrition team.

Is Pathogen-free possible? Legislators believe so with new requirements for testing in the mix. California Senator Feinstein said, "Food producers must be obligated to produce food that is free of pathogens. It is the responsibility of the food producer, not the consumer, to make sure our food safe to eat." National Chicken Council spokesman Richard Lobb covers current industry practices.

PoultryCast brings you a special presentation from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, looking at Ag Lending issues, featuring Texas A&M’s Dr. Danny Klinefelter, director of The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) and co-director of the Texas A&M Family and Owner-Managed Business.

This valuable presentation overviews "The Forces Driving the Ag Credit Market and Its Impact on Producers". This presentation should be reviewed by your senior management team and others involved in the financial area of your operation.

Also this week is a conversation with Rick Krause, American Farm Bureau Federation’s Senior Director for Congressional Relations. Rick reviews the current climate legislation conversation in Washington and what it means for livestock and crop producers.

Employment prospects for farmers, ranchers, and production managers are expected to decline over the next seven years, with notable exceptions in organic farming, horticulture, and aquiculture. The overall outlook for careers in agriculture and food science is brighter—job growth in these areas is expected to keep pace with the average of other occupations in the United States.