Location
Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences
1371 W Altheimer Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72704
OR
virtually via Zoom
(linked below)
1371 W Altheimer Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72704
OR
virtually via Zoom
(linked below)
Date & Time
May 25, 2022
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The poultry science graduate association and the department of poultry science at the University of Arkansas would like to provide some information on the first annual POSC Research Day. The event will be both in-person at the UofA campus, and virtually via Microsoft Teams.
This research day is intended to bring poultry science academia, industry, and field attendees together to better collaborate on the challenges facing all of us in Arkansas and beyond. Topics of interest in the current poultry science field as well as advancements in research and industry settings will be discussed during this event.
For 2022, we will be assessing water conservation. Our goal is to showcase current work in the field of poultry water conservation, in industry and research, while emphasizing its role in improving poultry’s environmental impact, performance, and sustainability. Water plays a vital role in our industry and can have global implications. Therefore, the need to improve water efficiency in the poultry industry will continue to be important. This reason alone makes water conservation an important topic for discussion.
We will also be hosting a POSC student oral and poster presentation competition annually. Details on abstract submission and the judging committee are below.
This research day is intended to bring poultry science academia, industry, and field attendees together to better collaborate on the challenges facing all of us in Arkansas and beyond. Topics of interest in the current poultry science field as well as advancements in research and industry settings will be discussed during this event.
For 2022, we will be assessing water conservation. Our goal is to showcase current work in the field of poultry water conservation, in industry and research, while emphasizing its role in improving poultry’s environmental impact, performance, and sustainability. Water plays a vital role in our industry and can have global implications. Therefore, the need to improve water efficiency in the poultry industry will continue to be important. This reason alone makes water conservation an important topic for discussion.
We will also be hosting a POSC student oral and poster presentation competition annually. Details on abstract submission and the judging committee are below.
POSC Research Day
- Water Conservation -
VIRTUAL
- Water Conservation -
VIRTUAL
Please use the button below to join the zoom meeting whenever you can. Registration is not necessary; we look forward to welcoming you!
Keynote Speakers
We are extremely excited to showcase the lineup of impressive keynote speakers.
Rodney Wright
Water Management Engineer
Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Rodney was formerly an agricultural engineer for NRCS, working with row crop irrigation projects. Prior to that, Rodney spent most of his career managing his farm and working as an irrigation manager in Northeast Arkansas. He has a BS and MS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arkansas and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Arkansas State University. Rodney has authored several scientific papers, and in 2018 he was presented the Precision Ag Award of Excellence – Farmer Category by the Precision Ag Institute, which honors individuals for their adoption and promotion of precision agriculture techniques.
Brittany Craig
Sustainability associate
Sustainable Food Strategy
Tyson Foods
Sustainable Food Strategy
Tyson Foods
Brittany Craig, an Arkansan, is a recipient of the US Poultry and Egg Associations coveted Young Leaders Under 30 award and has worked for three years as a Sustainability Associate on environmental initiatives within Tyson Foods.
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Craig graduated from the University of Arkansas, Dale Bumpers College with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science.
Currently, Craig is leading Tyson Foods efforts in setting contextual water targets and implementing water stewardship initiatives in several of the company’s US facilities. Through these efforts, Craig will assist the company in establishing these targets at 11 priority sites by 2025.
In her personal time, Craig enjoys motherhood of her five year-old son and the outdoors she strives to conserve – hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking.
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Craig graduated from the University of Arkansas, Dale Bumpers College with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science.
Currently, Craig is leading Tyson Foods efforts in setting contextual water targets and implementing water stewardship initiatives in several of the company’s US facilities. Through these efforts, Craig will assist the company in establishing these targets at 11 priority sites by 2025.
In her personal time, Craig enjoys motherhood of her five year-old son and the outdoors she strives to conserve – hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking.
Dr. Susan Watkins
Distinguished Professor, Emeritus
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
An Emeritus Distinguished Professor, Susan Watkins retired from the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in 2017. Dr. Watkins earned her PhD in poultry nutrition in 1996 and worked as an extension specialist with a primary focus on live production challenges. Dr. Watkins is a leading expert on evaluating and improving drinking water quality for livestock production. She has assisted operations all over the world with developing their water programs and she continues to provide advice and technical training. Her research team developed inexpensive methods for evaluating efficacy of sanitation products. In 2006, she was named a Top Gun Poultry Industry Problem Solver by Watt’s Publishing Company. Dr. Watkins mentored graduate students, taught poultry production, managed the internship program and assisted students with securing employment.
Samantha Beitia
Quality Assurance Manager
Live Production for Simmons Foods
Live Production for Simmons Foods
Samantha is currently employed by Simmons Foods as their Quality Assurance Manager of Live Production. She is also working to obtain a PhD through the University of Arkansas focusing on poultry pre-harvest food safety interventions. Prior to working at Simmons, Samantha graduated with a masters in Poultry Science focusing on poultry water quality.
Dr. Sara Orlowski
University of Arkansas
Sara Orlowski is an Assistant Professor of poultry genetics and Poultry Extension Specialist at the University of Arkansas. She received her B.S. degree from Cornell University and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. Her research program focuses on selection of broiler lines for industry relevant traits including selection for water efficiency, disease resistance and meat quality.
Dr. Tom Tabler
Professor, Poultry Specialist
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Extension and AgResearch
Department of Animal Science
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Extension and AgResearch
Department of Animal Science
Tom received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has over 40 years experience as a broiler service technician Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., a commercial broiler grower, a university researcher, and an Extension poultry specialist.
His research areas: composting poultry mortality; poultry water quality; environmental management; poultry housing, ventilation, and cooling; energy efficient lighting; and litter management. His Extension outreach efforts support Tennessee’s multi-million dollar commercial poultry industry and backyard flocks. He works with industry personnel and growers to assist achieving optimum performance and production goals. He conducts applied research that allows the poultry industry to make informed equipment and management decisions.
His research areas: composting poultry mortality; poultry water quality; environmental management; poultry housing, ventilation, and cooling; energy efficient lighting; and litter management. His Extension outreach efforts support Tennessee’s multi-million dollar commercial poultry industry and backyard flocks. He works with industry personnel and growers to assist achieving optimum performance and production goals. He conducts applied research that allows the poultry industry to make informed equipment and management decisions.
Dr. Yi Liang
Associate Professor
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas
Dr. Yi Liang joined the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture since 2007. Her research and extension program focuses on environmental management by developing and executing practical, economically feasible, and environmentally-sound technologies and applications, and provide timely technical assistance to poultry producers, poultry integrators, industry personnel, extension agents, government agencies, etc.
Dr. Elizabeth Greene
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
Center of Excellence for Poultry science
University of Arkansas
Center of Excellence for Poultry science
University of Arkansas
Elizabeth S. Greene joined the University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department in 2013 as a program associate in Dr. Sami Dridi’s lab. She received her Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Florida, and has worked in several different fields, including exercise physiology, bone physiology, and cardiovascular research, where she gained experience in a wide variety of laboratory techniques and animal models. In her spare time, Dr. Greene enjoys spending time with her family and shuttling her kids between their numerous activities.
Schedule
| 7:30 am
Coffee and Conversation
Take the time to sign-in at the registration table before enjoying breakfast, coffee and conversation in the first reception room
| 8:00 am
Welcome - Dr. David Caldwell & Dr. Sami Dridi
Our day will begin with opening remarks from Dr. David Caldwell, Department Head of Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas. Afterwards, Dr. Sami Dridi will introduce our guest speakers for the day.
| 8:30 am
Speaker Session 1
Rodney Wright - Water Footprint?
Brittany Craig - Water Strategy: Feeding a Thirsty World
Dr. Susan Watkins & Samantha Beitia - Water Quality for Poultry: Lessons Learned
Brittany Craig - Water Strategy: Feeding a Thirsty World
Dr. Susan Watkins & Samantha Beitia - Water Quality for Poultry: Lessons Learned
| 10:15 am
BREAK
| 10:30 am
Speaker Session 2
Dr. Tom Tabler - Sprinkler Technology Improves Broiler Production and Water Conservation Efforts
Dr. Yi Liang - How Sprinkler and Cool Cells Meet the Demand of Broiler Cooling
Dr. Sara Orlowski - Water Consumption Based Selection
Dr. Elizabeth Greene - Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Water Intake Regulation in Chickens
Dr. Yi Liang - How Sprinkler and Cool Cells Meet the Demand of Broiler Cooling
Dr. Sara Orlowski - Water Consumption Based Selection
Dr. Elizabeth Greene - Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Water Intake Regulation in Chickens
| 12:30 pm
LUNCH - Ozark Catering Co.
| 1:30 pm
Student Oral Presentation Competition - UARK POSC
Selected student abstracts will present their research (12 minute presentation; 8 minute discussion)
| 2:45 pm
Closing Remarks - Dr. Sami Dridi
| 2:50 pm
Student Poster Session - UARK POSC
Selected student abstracts will be presenting their posters in the gallery hall.
POSC Research Day
- Student Competition -
- Student Competition -
We will be accepting abstracts for both poster and oral presentations to provide industry personnel with current research tactics that are being investigated in educational research.
Submission: [email protected]
Deadline: April 27th-30th (submission has closed)
A committee will select a series of abstracts to present in an oral or poster competition for a monetary prize and judging the presentations at the event.
This event will also serve as a networking opportunity for POSC students to gain connections with those in the poultry science field.
Submission: [email protected]
Deadline: April 27th-30th (submission has closed)
A committee will select a series of abstracts to present in an oral or poster competition for a monetary prize and judging the presentations at the event.
This event will also serve as a networking opportunity for POSC students to gain connections with those in the poultry science field.
Student Competition - Committee Members
Dr. Michael L. Looper
Professor and Head, Animal Science - University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Michael Looper is Professor and Head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas where he coordinates the research, teaching, and Extension programs of 22 faculty members in three locations throughout the state. Looper was raised on a fifth generation dairy/beef farm in Arkansas and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas. Looper received the Ph.D. degree from Oklahoma State University with an emphasis on reproduction of postpartum beef cows. Looper began his research, education, and Extension career at New Mexico State University where he was an Assistant Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist. In 2002, Looper joined the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as a Research Animal Scientist and Lead Scientist of the Food Animal Production program. As Lead Scientist, he was responsible for program stewardship, oversight, and accountability for approximately one million dollars in funding for partnerships between USDA-ARS and the University of Missouri, Oregon State University, and University of Arkansas. Looper has advised or co-advised 25 graduate students in production management and reproductive physiology, and authored or coauthored over 380 publications including 62 peer-refereed journal articles.
Michael Looper is Professor and Head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas where he coordinates the research, teaching, and Extension programs of 22 faculty members in three locations throughout the state. Looper was raised on a fifth generation dairy/beef farm in Arkansas and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas. Looper received the Ph.D. degree from Oklahoma State University with an emphasis on reproduction of postpartum beef cows. Looper began his research, education, and Extension career at New Mexico State University where he was an Assistant Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist. In 2002, Looper joined the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as a Research Animal Scientist and Lead Scientist of the Food Animal Production program. As Lead Scientist, he was responsible for program stewardship, oversight, and accountability for approximately one million dollars in funding for partnerships between USDA-ARS and the University of Missouri, Oregon State University, and University of Arkansas. Looper has advised or co-advised 25 graduate students in production management and reproductive physiology, and authored or coauthored over 380 publications including 62 peer-refereed journal articles.
Dr. Rachel Hawken
Director of Genomics & Quantitative Genetics - Cobb-Vantress Inc.
Rachel Hawken currently leads a team at Cobb-Vantress to develop genetic tools to maintain a competitive product for the broiler breeding industry. To achieve this goal this team explores genomic and statistical genetic approaches, engages innovate technologies and collaborative research.
Rachel received her Ph.D. at The University of Melbourne, School of Veterinary Science. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Fellow positions at the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Minnesota. Rachel then returned to Australia to join the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) as a Senior Research scientists before being recruited to Cobb in Arkansas. Rachel is now the Senior Director for Genetics at Cobb.
The focus of Rachel’s early academic career was the development and testing of genomic tools to enable the selection of superior breeding stock for the swine, sheep, dairy and beef industries. Since joining Cobb, Rachel has implemented such genomic tools for the genetic improvement of the Cobb broiler through custom built logistic and sampling systems, automated statistical systems for the interrogation of very large data sets, and tools for the sustainability of genetic variation. Rachel is most proud of the team (internal and collaborative) that has been built to support these and other efforts, and the knowledge that the work Cobb does today, feeds the world tomorrow.
Rachel Hawken currently leads a team at Cobb-Vantress to develop genetic tools to maintain a competitive product for the broiler breeding industry. To achieve this goal this team explores genomic and statistical genetic approaches, engages innovate technologies and collaborative research.
Rachel received her Ph.D. at The University of Melbourne, School of Veterinary Science. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Fellow positions at the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Minnesota. Rachel then returned to Australia to join the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) as a Senior Research scientists before being recruited to Cobb in Arkansas. Rachel is now the Senior Director for Genetics at Cobb.
The focus of Rachel’s early academic career was the development and testing of genomic tools to enable the selection of superior breeding stock for the swine, sheep, dairy and beef industries. Since joining Cobb, Rachel has implemented such genomic tools for the genetic improvement of the Cobb broiler through custom built logistic and sampling systems, automated statistical systems for the interrogation of very large data sets, and tools for the sustainability of genetic variation. Rachel is most proud of the team (internal and collaborative) that has been built to support these and other efforts, and the knowledge that the work Cobb does today, feeds the world tomorrow.
Dr. Daniel Lessner
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Biological Sciences - University of Arkansas
Dr. Lessner received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1996), a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Iowa (2003), and completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Biochemistry from Penn State University (2008). Dr. Lessner’s research group uses genetics and biochemistry to investigate the fundamental biology of anaerobic methane-producing archaea (methanogens), with the current focus on understanding the nitrogen fixation process.
Dr. Lessner received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1996), a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Iowa (2003), and completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Biochemistry from Penn State University (2008). Dr. Lessner’s research group uses genetics and biochemistry to investigate the fundamental biology of anaerobic methane-producing archaea (methanogens), with the current focus on understanding the nitrogen fixation process.
Dr. Fiona L. Goggin
Professor, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology - University of Arkansas
Fiona L. Goggin is a Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas. Her research focuses on plants’ molecular and physiological responses to biotic stress, with the goal of enhancing insect- and nematode resistance in crops. She also teaches Insect Physiology and trains students through the Entomology and Cell and Molecular Biology degree programs. She received her B.S. degree from Cornell University and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.
Fiona L. Goggin is a Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas. Her research focuses on plants’ molecular and physiological responses to biotic stress, with the goal of enhancing insect- and nematode resistance in crops. She also teaches Insect Physiology and trains students through the Entomology and Cell and Molecular Biology degree programs. She received her B.S. degree from Cornell University and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.
Dr. David McCreery
(photo not shown)
Nutritionist, Water Quality Lead - Pilgrim's Pride
Dr. McCreery is a nutritionist with Pilgrims and leads their water quality program. David received his bachelor’s from Cal Poly and his PhD from the University of Arkansas. He began his poultry career with Simmons Foods and later was on staff at the University of Arkansas before joining Pilgrims. He and his wife, Jenny live in Cookville, Texas.
Nutritionist, Water Quality Lead - Pilgrim's Pride
Dr. McCreery is a nutritionist with Pilgrims and leads their water quality program. David received his bachelor’s from Cal Poly and his PhD from the University of Arkansas. He began his poultry career with Simmons Foods and later was on staff at the University of Arkansas before joining Pilgrims. He and his wife, Jenny live in Cookville, Texas.
Conference Location
1371 W Altheimer Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72704
The POSC Research Day is located at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences (DTAS) just off Garland Ave in Fayetteville. The Waldrip Hall will behold the main events while the gallery hall and reception rooms contain refreshments, poster sessions, and socials.
The POSC Research Day is located at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences (DTAS) just off Garland Ave in Fayetteville. The Waldrip Hall will behold the main events while the gallery hall and reception rooms contain refreshments, poster sessions, and socials.
Sponsors
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our event sponsors. Without their support and passion for poultry, this event would not be possible. please take the time to find out more about our amazing sponsors below.
- Organizing Committee -
Dr. Sami Dridi
Dr. Alison Ramser
Clay Maynard
Dr. Elizabeth Greene
Dr. Craig Maynard
Cindy Lowery
Dr. Alison Ramser
Clay Maynard
Dr. Elizabeth Greene
Dr. Craig Maynard
Cindy Lowery
News & Updates
Please be aware of upcoming announcements and news regarding the research day. We hope to see everyone in person and learn more about the poultry industry!
Call for Abstracts!
Posted April 20
We will be accepting abstracts for both poster and oral presentations to provide industry personnel with current research tactics that are being investigated in educational research.
Abstracts will be submitted to Dr. Alison Ramser ([email protected]) by April 27th-30th and a confirmation email will be sent in return for abstract submission. A committee will select a series of abstracts to present in an oral or poster competition for a monetary prize.
Abstracts will be submitted to Dr. Alison Ramser ([email protected]) by April 27th-30th and a confirmation email will be sent in return for abstract submission. A committee will select a series of abstracts to present in an oral or poster competition for a monetary prize.