Poultry research in Canada - heavy hitters launch new projects

These projects, all based at University of Guelph in Ontario, span a wide range of areas, including avian influenza, embryo and chick activity, antibiotic alternatives, feed additives and disinfection of eggs at hatcheries.

Curbing AI spread

Dr Shayan Sharif will study how to reduce the spread of avian influenza in the face of a changing climate. Sharif will also conduct a separate project with Dr Joshua Gong at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) to explore whether certain bacteria may help control chicken diseases by blocking cell-to-cell communication that fuels intestinal disease development.

Embryo and chick activity

Some chicken embryos kick their legs and move their wings more than others, but we don’t know why – nor whether this leads to better physical development post-hatch. Dr Alexandra Harlander, one of Canada’s most-prominent poultry behaviour and welfare scientists, is tackling these questions. She will also investigate with colleagues whether, in cage-free housing, training chicks or allowing them to learn by observing and interacting with older birds can enhance their physical development and/or navigation of the barn environment.

Antibiotic alternative?

As the search continues for ways to decrease or eliminate antibiotics, Dr Nicole Ricker will explore the use of bacteriophages (viruses that can only infect bacterial cells), administered alone or with gut-modifying feeds, can be used as potential alternatives to antibiotics for battling Salmonella infections in poultry. Ricker will work in collaboration with Dr Hany Anany at AAFC.

Feed additives and gases

With his new funding, Dr Elijah Kiarie will work with AAFC colleagues to evaluate fruit pomaces (by-products from fruit processing that include skin, pulp, seeds, stems) as potential feed ingredients to enhance bird health, performance and food safety. Kiarie is also receiving new funding to measure the amounts of nitrogen-containing gases produced by chickens in broiler houses and develop strategies to reduce these outputs, as well as nutrient losses. This is accomplished by designing feed formulas that optimise protein utilisation.

Biochar star

Biochar has been studied in Canada for many years for use as a soil amendment and more. It’s a carbon-rich, petroleum-free material produced by pyrolysis (heating materials in the absence of oxygen). Dr Animesh Dutta, engineering professor and founding director of the Bio-Renewable Innovation Lab, will develop a thermochemical process for generating biochar from poultry litter.

Dutta will also work in collaboration with scientists at AAFC and McGill to study how climate change impacts the gut health of poultry and explore innovative uses for valuable compounds found in litter.

A clean egg

Disinfection of eggs in hatcheries can be done in different ways. Food science researcher Dr Keith Warriner has received funding to explore the use of antimicrobial gas-phase hydroxyl radicals for cleaning not just eggs but also egg crates, trays and other surfaces in the hatchery.