For Immediate Release
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
July 24, 2009
Genetic Markers Will Allow Breeds to be More Tailored
ATLANTA – In the future,
genetic markers will
make it possible to select for traits previously too difficult or too
expensive to measure and incorporate into a breeding program, according to
Dr. Bill Lee, Heritage Breeders. “New
genetic testing will
allow for breeds to be tailored to individual market niches and customers,”
he said.
Lee was speaking on a panel discussing “Primary Breeder
Trends” at the 2009 Hatchery-Breeder Clinic. Sponsored by U.S. Poultry
& Egg Association’s Poultry & Egg Institute, the conference provided a
comprehensive look at factors that influence production and performance,
such as future breeder trends, effective management practices, and
technology advancements at the breeder farm and in the hatchery.
Another breeder panel member, Dr. Mike Hellwig, Hubbard, said
that, “disease resistance, immune response, and similar traits will depend
in part on the progress we make with genetic markers. Other traits suited
to markers include livability; egg production, before onset of production;
carcass traits, such as yield and fat; and heat tolerance,” he added.
Dr. Manouchehr Katanbaf,
Cobb-Vantress, discussed Cobb’s future broiler objectives, which include
more meat yield with less feed, better livability and bird welfare, and
improved skeletal and cardiovascular health. Cobb’s future goals for
breeders are more
hatching eggs, better hen livability, and maintaining current
fertility and hatch. Dr. Derek Emmerson, Aviagen, said that his company
will continue their emphasis on broiler traits with better tools for
balanced selection.
“We’re confident that improvements in breeder performance are still
possible: for ease of management, persistency, fertility, and hatchability
traits. And, new products will expand possibilities,” he said.
Mike Czarick,
University of Georgia, described the latest
research and equipment for energy saving opportunities at the farm in his
presentation “Reducing Pullet/Breeder Farm Energy Usage.”
Advancements in equipment also play an important role in reducing energy
costs in the hatchery, according to Jerry Leyte, Jamesway Incubator. For
example, he said, incubation represents 32% of
energy consumption, and
just using variable speed motors can lead to savings. Leyte and Chad
Daniels, Chick Master Incubator, discussed valuable
energy savings
techniques throughout the hatchery.
Jeff Reap, Agri Stats, provided an
industry economic outlook. “We should continue to see modest profits in
the broiler industry throughout the remainder of 2009 and well into
2010. There could be a shortage of hatching eggs by year's end. There is
encouraging crop news, for now. And, freezer inventories should remain low,
relative to last year's levels,” he said
However, Reap cautioned that there
are important elements that can impact the industry’s bottom line, “The wild
cards will be whether or not we have any export interruptions and just how
much feed prices actually eat into our profit,” he added.
The seminar covered time sensitive
topics, including a “Disease Report,” by Dr. Joel Cline, Alabama
Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, along with a series of other presentations on
breeder and hatchery operations, such as “Back to the Basics for Running
an Efficient Hatchery,” by Jack Patrick, Harrison Poultry; and
“Brooding Set-Up: Giving Chicks a Good Start,” by Dale Simpkins,
Perdue Farms.
Photo:
Presider and program committee
chairman Richard Higgins (center), Perdue Farms, reviewed the agenda with
the panel experts, from left: Dr. Hellwig, Dr. Emmerson, Dr. Katanbaf, and
Dr. Lee.