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Research and Priorities |
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The poultry industry is one of the most dynamic of all the livestock industries in modern agriculture. As the industry changes, so to must the scope and focus of poultry research change. With the development of the Atlantic Poultry Research Institute and acquisition of personnel to conduct poultry research we are posed to address the concerns for poultry research in the Atlantic region.
The unique and regional differences in how poultry are raised in Atlantic Canada compared to the rest of North America have resulted in establishment of specific research priorities for the Atlantic poultry industry. The Atlantic Poultry Research Institute (APRI) was formed to address the concerns of the poultry industry in the Atlantic region by conducting poultry research and training poultry personnel. APRI represents all sectors of the Atlantic poultry industry, egg, chicken, turkey, hatchery, processing and feed manufacturing. For the egg, chicken and turkey sectors research priority lists are updated each year by the Atlantic Poultry Industry.
The priority list for the egg sector is prioritized with research into feed ingredients at the top of the list. The main reason for this is that feed costs represent the major input cost in the business of raising poultry and reductions in the cost of feeding birds can be of great benefit. Subcategories within feed priorities include investigation of the use of alternative feeds grown in the region, the use of probiotics, and evaluation of lower price sources of calcium for laying hen diets. The egg sector is very interested in developing on-farm methods of spent layer disposal that take into account economics as well as bird welfare. The management of waste with an interest in composting is also a priority of the egg sector. The development of new egg products that may help develop profitable niche markets for Atlantic egg producers is also an item on the egg sector's priority list.
Below is a list of the 2008 Egg Sector Priority List:
| Feed | Reducing feed costs |
| Alternative local grains | |
| Soybean use | |
| Use of biologics (probiotics, BioPlex) | |
| Calcium source & particle size | |
| Formulation (amino acid vs protein) | |
| Sourcing strategy | |
| Contamination | |
| Spent layer | Non-food uses |
| Composting | |
| Waste Management | Reducing Phosphorus in Manure |
| Alternate uses for manure - composting | |
| Storage & handling | |
| Pest Control | Fly control |
| Rodent control | |
| Egg Products |
New products |
| Market development | |
| New Technology |
Adaptation |
| Water Quality |
Regional survey |
| Mineral & organic excesses | |
| Alternative Species | Waterfowl |
| Environmental Quality | Literature review |
Similar to the egg sector, the chicken sector's priority list has research involving feed as the number one priority. The chicken industry is interested in research that will improve efficiency of use of the feed by the bird. The chicken sector is also interested in evaluating different grain varieties with a special interest in the varieties that are grown in the Atlantic region. Losses due to downgraded and trimmed carcasses are of a major concern to the chicken industry and the chicken sector has included cellulitis research and attention to reducing ascites as important research activities. The quality of chicks in the Atlantic region is of concern to producers, which can be aggravated by the distances that chicks may need to travel from hatchery to production unit. The chicken sector also included development of new technologies for the industry as a priority in recognition that the poultry industry is a rapidly changing industry and keeping up to date with technology is important when trying to stay competitive.
Below is a list of 2008 Chicken Sector Priority List:
| New Technology | Decreasing heat & electrical costs |
| Adaptation | |
| Chick Quality | Chick Dehydration |
| Flock Management | |
| Hatchery Management | |
| Egg Size | |
| Feed | Efficiencies |
| Sourcing | |
| Enzymes | |
| Formulation | |
| Grain-variety differences | |
| Waste Management | Manure burning |
| Pelleted Manure | |
| Downgrading |
Disinfectants - application & rotation |
| Cellulitis | |
| Bruising | |
| Proventriculus extension |
The APRI priority list for the turkey sector is somewhat different in that the health of the bird is the top priority for research considerations. Shipping of day-old poults from outside the region can cause health concerns for the turkey industry. The fact that shipping of turkey flocks can occur several times, removing only part of the flock each time, presents a situation that is unique to this region and needs to be evaluated for detrimental effects on the bird. Turkey producers in this region have indicated that the occurrence of runny manure is a concern and they would like to investigate the potential benefits of using probiotics during rearing. Feed ingredient research is also a priority of the turkey industry and alternative feedstuffs are once again mentioned. The use of enzymes to improve feed utilization and the dilution of rations by feeding whole grains are of specific interest to the turkey growers in the Atlantic region.
Below is a list of the 2008 Turkey Sector Priority List:
| Feed |
Efficiencies |
| Enzymes | |
| Other additives (reduced antibiotics) | |
| Formulations | |
| Alternative feedstuffs | |
| Fibre level effect | |
| Whole grain feeding | |
| Health | Shipping and handling |
| Runny Manure | |
| Coccidia | |
| Performance | Bird size |
| Feeding strategies | |
| Strain effect |
The Canadian poultry industry is truly an industry in transition. Research conducted and supported by industry, government and educational institutions have contributed to the incredible changes to the poultry industry over the years. Attitudes and preferences of consumers have been very influential on the changes to the poultry industry and therefore also influence the focus and scope of poultry research in Canada. Research projects currently being conducted by the Atlantic Poultry Research Institute are listed below as per sector:
Determining the economic and welfare added value of natural and load-bearing movement in three strains of laying hens housed in furnished colony cages. (Egg Farmers of Canada, Poultry Industry Council, Nova Scotia Technology Development, Alberta Egg Producers, APRI, NSAC)
Development of omega-3 and astaxanthin enriched eggs by feeding crab meal. (Nova Scotia Technology Development, ACAAF)
Alternative calcium sources for laying hens. (Nova Scotia Technology Development )
Evaluation of blue mussel shells for laying hens. (PEI ADAPT, PEI Department of Agriculture and St Laurent Gulf Products Ltd.)
Evaluation of whelk shells for laying hens. (Cape Mariner Ent., NRC, ACOA, CCFI, DFA)
Relationship of uterine protein profiles with egg shell quality. (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada)
Improving egg shell and bone quality of laying hens. (Nova Scotia Technology Development)
Investigating the influence of perch material and shape on the incidence of pododermatitis, body condition and behaviour of laying hens housed in furnished colony cages. (NSAC, APRI)
An Economic Evaluation of Laying Hen Housing in Conventional and Furnished Colony Battery Cages. (Egg Farmers of Canada)
Evaluation of yellow-seeded canola (Brassica napus) products for poultry (Poultry Industry Council, NS Technology Development & ACAAF)
Administering natural antimicrobials to poultry prior to shipping. (NS Technology Development, ACAAF)
Enrichment of broiler meat with omega-3 fatty acids (NS Technology Development, AAFC, ACAAF, & ACA Co-op)
The impact of endogenous proteolytic activity and oxidative stress on the functional properties of poultry skeletal muscle (NS Technology Development, ACAAF and AAFC)
Impact of a nutritive supplement and lysozyme on incidence of early mortality, digestive system development, behavior and growth performance of turkey poults having delayed access to feed and water. (Nova Scotia Technology Development and NSACAAF)
Evaluation of yellow-seeded canola (Brassica napus) products for poultry. (Poultry Industry Council, Nova Scotia Technology Development and ACAAF )
The evaluation of potential ingredients as replacements for animal by-products in broiler turkey diets. (Poultry Industry Council and Nova Scotia Technology Development )
The effect of alternatives to antibiotics on the growth performance of broiler turkeys. (Nova Scotia Technology Development )
Microbial populations of the digestive tract of turkeys fed alternatives to antibiotics products. (Nova Scotia Technology Development )
The influence of postmortem metabolic activity and oxidative status on the quality of poultry meat proteins. (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada)
Enrichment of poultry meat with omega-3 fatty acids. (Nova Scotia Technology Development and ACAAF)
