Dr. A. Bruce Webster, PhD.
Professor & Extension Coordinator
Poultry Science Department

Area: Layer Management, Poultry Behavior and Welfare, Youth Programs

Fields of Specialization:

Poultry Behavior
Animal Welfare
Commercial Layer Management
Environmental Management

Activity

Dr. Webster is active in the study of animal behavior and welfare with the purpose of developing practical solutions to legitimate animal welfare concerns. His research has encompassed the behavioral genetics of fear-related behavior in chickens, behavior of caged laying hens, enrichment of cages for laying hens, humane on-farm euthanasia of spent hens, welfare aspects of controlled atmosphere stunning of chickens, behavioral responses of laying hens to feed withdrawal and induced molting, automation of the live hang process at broiler processing plants, factors affecting broiler mortality during live haul, alleviation of laying hen osteoporosis by dietary sodium fluoride, evaluation of a live-bird palpation scoring system as an indicator of severity of osteoporosis in commercial layer flocks, and assessment of walking ability of broiler chickens. He has given numerous oral presentations and written many articles on poultry behavior and welfare for scientists and industry professionals.

As Extension Coordinator, Dr. Webster has responsibility for coordination and development of the Department of Poultry Science extension programs including all in-service training programs for county agents and Vo-Ag teachers as well as the youth (4-H and FFA) Poultry Science programs. Dr. Webster has developed a component of his extension program to address environmental issues. He has collaborated with colleagues in the UGA Departments of Poultry Science and Biological and Agricultural Engineering to develop an in-house composting process for layer manure. This work has led to the commercial development of an in-house composting machine by a prominent farm equipment manufacturing company. Dr. Webster has helped educate the Georgia layer industry regarding environmentally appropriate best management practices for manure utilization through nutrient management planning training programs.

Dr. Webster has contributed to a number of national committees addressing animal welfare. He served as a member of the Animal Care Committee of the Poultry Science Association from 1995 to 2003, and served as chairman of the committee from 1998-2003. He also served on the Expert Committee on Farm Animal Welfare and Behaviour (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) from 1993 to 1994 and the Federation of Animal Science Societies' Animal Care, Use and Standards Committee (FASS ACUSC) from 1999 to 2001, and currently serves on the Poultry Subcommittee of FASS ACUSC. He participates on the regional project committee NCR-131, Animal Behavior and Welfare. Dr. Webster provides advice on poultry care and welfare to Wendy's International and the parent company of KFC. He is a member of the Poultry Science Association, Southern Poultry Science Society, and the International Society for Applied Ethology.

Education

B.S. (1976) McGill University, Dept. Biology (Animal Behavior), Montreal, PQ, Canada.
M.S. (1979) University of Guelph, Dept. Zoology (Animal Behavior), Guelph, ON, Canada
Ph.D. (1990) University of Guelph, Dept. Animal and Poultry Science (Applied Ethology).

Recent Publications:

Webster, A. B., 2007. Animal care guidelines and future directions. Proceedings of the Poultry Welfare Symposium: Realistic Views Concerning Poultry Welfare. Poultry Science (Accepted).

Webster, A. B., S. A. Thompson, N. C. Hinkle, and W. C. Merka, 2006. In-house composting of layer manure in a high-rise tunnel ventilated commercial layer house over an entire production cycle. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 15:447-456.

Ritz, C., A. B. Webster, and M. Czarick, 2005. Evaluation of hot weather thermal environment and incidence of mortality associated with broiler live haul. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 14:594-602.

Webster, A. B., 2004. Welfare implications of avian osteoporosis. Symposium on Avian Osteoporosis: Measurement and Ethical Implications. Poultry Science 83:184-192.

Webster, A. B., and D. L. Fletcher, 2004. Assessment of the aversion of hens to different gas atmospheres using an approach-avoidance test. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 88:275-287.

Webster, A. B., 2003. Physiology and behavior of the hen during induced molt. Symposium on Current and Future Prospects for Induced Molting in Layer Hens. Poultry Science 82: 992-1002.

Webster, A. B., 2002. Behavior of chickens. Pages 71-86 in: Commercial Chicken Meat and Egg Production, 5'th edition, editors: Don Bell and Bill Weaver, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Hingham, MA, U.S.A.

Webster, A. B., 2002. Behavioral genetics. Pages 87-99 in: Chapter 7; Commercial Chicken Meat and Egg Production, 5'th edition, editors: Don Bell and Bill Weaver, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Hingham, MA, U.S.A.

Thompson, S. A., P. M. Ndegwa, W. C. Merka, and A. B. Webster, 2001. Reduction in manure weight and volume using an in-house layer manure composting system under field conditions. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 10:255-261.

Webster, A. B., and D. L. Fletcher, 2001. Reactions of laying hens and broilers to different gases used for stunning poultry. Poultry Science 80:1371-1377.

Dr. Nicholas Dale, PhD.
Professor Emeritis
Poultry Science Department

Area: Poultry Nutrition & Feed Ingredient Quality

Faculty Positions:

Professor, The University of Georgia, 1999-present
Associate Professor, The University of Georgia, 1990-1999
Assistant Professor, The University of Georgia, 1985-1990.

Responsibilities of Current Position:

As Extension Nutritionist with the Poultry Science Department, responsibilities include providing technical support in the area of poultry nutrition to the poultry industry of Georgia and surrounding states. In this regard, close contact is maintained with industry nutritionists, in order to remain abreast of current problems and establish programs and activities to address these needs.

Fulfillment of this mission includes arranging training courses, publishing in the industry press and peer reviewed scientific journals, and conducting in vivo studies to address problem areas facing the poultry industry.

Education

B.S., Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College)
M.S., The University of Georgia
Ph.D., The University of Georgia

Principal Areas of Activity:
Feed Ingredient Quality Control
Nutritional Value of Fats
Effect of Processing on Soybean Meal Quality
Ascites in Broiler Chickens
Nutritive Value of Animal By-Product Meals
Nutritional Value of Newly Developed Corn and Soybean Meal Cultivars
Feed Microscopy
Metabolizable Energy of Feed Ingredients
Development of Rapid Quality Control Assays

Professional Contributions:

Refereed Journal Articles: 43
Presentations at Scientific Meetings: 92
Other Professional Presentations: 125
Proceedings: 57
Popular Articles and Reports: 52

Other Activities:

Coordinates Georgia International Poultry Course
Poultry oriented youth activities
Manuscript Review, Journal of Applied Poultry Research

Education

Ph.D, Physiology, North Carolina State University
M.S., Physiology, North Carolina State University
B.S., Animal Science, North Carolina State University
B.S., Poultry Science, North Carolina State University

Research Interests

Broiler management including air quality, energy conservation, lighting programs and water consumption & quality

Extension Publications
www.poultryventilation.com
www.poultry.uga.edu

Academic Program

Extension education responsibilities include areas of broiler management and production. Other activities include preparation of and participation in 4H and FFA poultry judging contests, as well as contributing to programs that assist county extension personnel.

Research programs focus on the effect that management has on broiler physiology and production. The purpose of this research is to examine new technologies that could be adapted to improve broiler production.

Teaching responsibilities include POUL 4010 Advance Poultry Production.

Selected Journal Publications

1. Ritz, C. W., B. D. Fairchild, and M. P. Lacy, 2004.  Implications of ammonia production and emissions from commercial poultry facilities: A review.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  13:684-692.

2. Christensen, V. L., D. T. Ort, and B. D. Fairchild, 2005.  The relationship between sperm hydrolysis of the perivitelline layer and embryonic livability.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  14:60-68.

3. Christensen, V. L., K. E. Nestor, D. T. Ort, and B. D. Fairchild, 2005.Dam and sire effects on sperm penetration of the perivitelline layer and resulting fecundity of different lines of turkeys.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  14:483-491.

4. Fairchild, B. D. and V. L. Christensen, 2005.  Influence of hen age and number of inseminated sperm on the number of holes hydrolyzed in the inner perivitelline layer of turkey eggs.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  14:576-581.

5. Christensen, V. L., M. J. Wineland, I. Yildirum, B. D. Fairchild, D. T. Ort and K. M. Mann, 2005.  Incubator temperature and oxygen concentrations during the plateau stage in oxygen uptake affect turkey embryo plasma T4 and T3 concentrations.  International Journal of Poultry Science 4:268-273.

6. Ritz, C. W., B. W. Mitchell, B. D. Fairchild, M. Czarick and J. W. Worley, 2006.  Improving in-house air quality in broiler production facilities using an electrostatic space charge system.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:333-340.

7. Visser, M. C., B. D. Fairchild, M. Czarick, M. P. Lacy, J. Worley, S. Thompson, J. Kastner, C. W. Ritz and L. P. Naeher, 2006.  Fine particle measurements inside and outside of tunnel-ventilated broiler houses.  J. Appl. Poultry Res. 15:394-405.

8. Cox, N. A., L. J. Richardson, R. J. Buhr, J. K. Northcutt, P. J. Fedorka-Cray, J. S. Bailey, B. D. Fairchild, and J. M. Mauldin, 2006.  Presence of inoculated campylobacter and Salmonella in unabsorbed yolks of male breeders raised as broilers.  Avian Diseases.  50:430-433.

9. Buhr, R.J, J. K Northcutt, L. J. Richardson, N. A. Cox and B. D. Fairchild, 2006.  Incidence of unabsorbed yolk sacs in broilers, broiler breeder roosters, white leghorn hens, and Athens-Canadian randombred control broilers.  Poultry Sci.  85:1294-1297.

10. Cox, N. A., L. J. Richardson, R. J. Buhr, J. K. Northcutt, P. J. Fedorka-Cray, J. S. Bailey, B. D. Fairchild and J. M. Mauldin, 2006.  Natural occurrence of Camplyobacter spp., Salmonella serovars and other bacteria in unabsorbed yolks of market age commercial broilers.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:551-557.

11. Fairchild, B. D., J. K Northcutt, J. M. Mauldin, R. J. Buhr, L. J. Richardson, N. A. Cox, 2006.  Influence of water provision to chicks prior to placement and effects on performance and incidence of unabsorbed yolk sacs.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:538-543.

12. Fairchild, B. D., A. B. Batal, C. W. Ritz and P. F. Vendrell, 2006.  Effect of drinking water iron concentration on broiler performance.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:511-517.

13. Wineland, M. W., V.L. Christensen, I. Yildrum, B.D. Fairchild, K.M. Mann and D.T. Ort, 2006.  Incubator temperature and oxygen concentration at the plateau stage in oxygen consumption affects intestinal maturation of broiler chicks.  International Journal of Poultry Science 5: 229-240.

14. Buhr, R. J., L. J. Richardson, J. A. Cason, N. A. Cox, B. D. Fairchild, 2007.  Comparison of four sampling methods for the detection of Salmonella in broiler litter. Poultry Sci.  86:21-25.

15. Hoffman, J. B., A. P. Benson, V. L. Christensen, B. D. Fairchild, and A. J. Davis, 2007.  Follicular development and expression of the messenger ribonucleic acid for the inhibin/activin subunits in two genetic lines of turkey hens that differ in total egg production.  Poultry Sci. 86:944-952.

16. Benson, A. P., V. L. Christensen, B. D. Fairchild, A. J. Davis, 2008. The mRNA for zona pellucida proteins B1, C and D in two genetic lines of turkey hens that differ in fertility. Animal Reproduction Science  doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.02.013.

17. Webster, A. B., B. D. Fairchild, T. S. Cummings and P. A. Stayer, 2008.  Validation of a three-point gait-scoring system for field assessment of walking ability of commercial broilers.  J. Appl. Poult. Res. 17:529-539.

18. Roche, A. J., N. A.Cox, L. J. Richardson, R. J. Buhr, J.A. Cason, B. D. Fairchild, and N. C.Hinkle, 2009.  Transmission of Salmonella to Broilers by Contaminated Larval and Adult Lesser Mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Poultry Sci. 88:44-48.

Dr. Casey W. Ritz Associate Professor & Extension Poultry Scientist Poultry Science Department University of Georgia 306 Poultry Science Building Athens, GA 30602

Research Interests

Broiler management, environmental and waste management, composting, air and water quality.

Education

Ph.D, Poultry Science, VPI&SU
M.S., Animal Science, Brigham Young University
B.S., Zoology, Brigham Young University

Academic Program
Dr. Ritz is a native of Oregon.  He has been an extension poultry specialist for the past 14 years, specializing in broiler management, environmental and waste management.  His primary focus has been the development of educational and research programs with emphasis on poultry production management and environmental issues involving waste management, nutrient management planning, water and air quality.  Ammonia and dust control have also been focus areas for the past several years, looking for ways to enhance traditional control measures and implement new technologies to aid the industry in emission reduction efforts.

SELECTED PUBLICATONS

1. Tasistro, A.S., C.W. Ritz, and D.E. Kissel, 2007.  Ammonia emissions from broiler litter: response to bedding materials and acidifiers.  British Poultry Science 48 (4):399-405.
2. Tasistro, A.S., M.L. Cabrera, D.E. Kissel, and C.W. Ritz, 2007.  Study on the reduction of NH3 volatilization from broiler litter through the promotion of nitrification.  Journal of Environmental Science and Health 42 (5):549-556. 
3. Fairchild, B.D. and C.W. Ritz, 2006.  Poultry drinking water primer.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1301.
4. Bass, T.M., J.W. Gaskin, and C.W. Ritz, 2006.  Maps for nutrient management planning. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1195.
5. Ritz. C.W., 2006.  Coexisting with neighbors.  Chapter 10 of: Small farm nutrient management primer: for un-permitted animal feeding operations. T.M. Bass and L.M. Risse, editors.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1293. 
6. Ritz, C. W., B. W. Mitchell, B. D. Fairchild, M. Czarick and J. W. Worley, 2006.  Improving in-house air quality in broiler production facilities using an electrostatic space charge system.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:333-340.
7. Visser, M. C., B. D. Fairchild, M. Czarick, M. P. Lacy, J. Worley, S. Thompson, J. Kastner, C. W. Ritz and L. P. Naeher, 2006.  Fine particle measurements inside and outside of tunnel-ventilated broiler houses.  J. Appl. Poultry Res. 15:394-405.
8. Fairchild, B. D., A. B. Batal, C. W. Ritz and P. F. Vendrell, 2006.  Effect of drinking water iron concentration on broiler performance.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.  15:511-517.
9. Ritz, C.W., A.B. Webster, and M. Czarick, 2005.  Evaluation of hot weather thermal environment and incidence of mortality associated with broiler live haul.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.14:594-602.
10. Ritz, C.W., 2005.  Composting mass poultry mortalities.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1282.
11. Risse, L.M., T.M. Bass, and C.W. Ritz, 2005.  A review of Georgia’s animal feeding operation regulations.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1257.
12. Ritz, C.W., D.L. Cunningham, and M. Giles, 2005.  NPDES permits for poultry operators.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication C-885.
13. Ritz, C.W. and G. Sheppard, 2005.  CNMP development checklist for dry litter poultry CAFOs.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication C-886.
14. Ritz, C.W., 2005.  Coexisting with neighbors: a poultry farmer’s guide.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1263.
15. Ritz, C.W. and J.W. Worley, 2005.  Poultry mortality composting management guide. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1266.
16. Ritz, C.W., B.D. Fairchild, and M.P. Lacy, 2005.  Litter quality ad broiler performance. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1267.
17. Ritz, C.W., P.F. Vendrell, and A.S. Tasistro, 2005.  Poultry Litter Sampling. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1270.
18. Ritz, C.W., B.D. Fairchild, and M.P. Lacy, 2004.  Implications of ammonia production and emissions from commercial poultry facilities: A review.  J. Appl. Poultry Res.13:684-692.
19. Risse, L.M., T.M. Bass, and C.W. Ritz, 2004.  Georgia Poultry Environmental Management Systems Guidebook. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Special Bulletin #42.
20. Ritz, C.W., 2004.   Mortality management options for Georgia poultry growers.  Extension Bulletin, The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1244.
21. Ritz, C.W. and W.C. Merka, 2004.   Maximizing poultry manure utilization through nutrient management planning.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1245.
22. Nayak, R., P.B. Kenney, J. Keswani, and C. Ritz, 2003.  Isolation and characterization of Salmonella in a turkey production facility.  British Poultry Science 44 (2):192-202.
23. J.W. Worley, L. Newton, M. Risse, C. Ritz, 2003.  Georgia CNMP Generator for Dairy and Poultry Operations (software program to aid in writing state permit nutrient management plans based on user inputs).
24. Cunningham, D.L. and C.W. Ritz, 2003.  Nutrient management programs for Georgia poultry growers.   The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1226.
25. Cunningham, D.L., C.W. Ritz, and W. Merka, 2003.  Best management practices for storing and applying poultry litter.   The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service publication B-1230.