- Email: [email protected]
Symposium: Situations and Problems1
Symposium: Situations and Problems1 Chairman W. D. RUSSELL University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65201
Members IN THE NORTHEAST H.
C.
WHELDEN
University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473
In the past five years, the Northeast has not expanded as rapidly in egg and broiler production as the average for the U.S. The 11 Northeastern states now produce about 15 percent of the country's total eggs and 16 percent of the broilers. The main problems facing the industry, as determined by a survey of poultry specialists in the Northeast, are public pressures, reduced margins for eggs, and transportation costs on grain. Public pressures are making the industry aware of its ecological responsibilities. These pressures are evidenced by stricter sanitary requirements, the need for better
ways to dispose of manure, and the generally poor reaction of the public toward poultry farms. Egg production in the U.S. has increased faster than the market demand. This has resulted in severe competition and as a result Northeastern poultrymen are looking for ways to reduce costs. There is a general trend, except in Maine, toward reducing costs by increasing the amount of mechanization. Transportation costs on grain shipped from the Midwest have contributed to high feed costs. The need exists to reduce this cost or at least eliminate further increases.
IN THE SOUTHEAST 0.
W.
CHARLES
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601
The problems in the Southeast might be
summarized as Men, Money, Marek's, and Manure. Men or people problems are mainly attitudes. Possibly this is due to faulty communications. It might begin with the poorly paid poultry farmer who just happens to be
"These summaries of the presentations given in the symposium at the 59th annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association, were prepared by H. S Johnson, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.
23
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
other areas of the country. Quite often, though, industry problems are not confined to one particular state or geographic area. Consequently, it is important that specialists find out what is going on in other areas and what is being done, and can be done, to solve a particular problem.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to examine the situations and problems in the five geographic areas of the U.S.—Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Far West. Normally poultry extension specialists do not have an opportunity to travel to
24
RUSSELL, WHELDEN, CHARLES, SKINNER, SHUTZE AND ERNST
a poor performer. Perhaps he is a poor performer because he does not understand what he should do or why he should do it. If this attitude begins on the farm, it can be passed on to farm youth and ultimately to the consumer. Money problems are difficult to separate from people problems because wages paid by the industry tend to create people problems. There seems to be a continual "hue
and cry" for increased contract payments. Marek's disease is the main disease problem, although other diseases are troublesome from time to time. Waste disposal in the Southeast is quite similar to that in other areas of the country. Farm level problems include excessive moisture, disposal, mechanical handling, and shortage of litter.
IN THE MIDWEST
The number of layers in the Midwest seems to be about stable. Those states that show an increase have a fairly large percentage of eggs being produced on contract. Turkey numbers are up in some states and down in others, but states with a substantial industry are generally increasing. The main disease problem in layers is Marek's, but coccidiosis is also a problem in some flocks. Quite a few pullets are being injected with turkey blood as a "preventative" for Marek's. Cholera continues to be the major problem in turkeys. It is difficult to market eggs in some areas due to the reduced number of buyers. Some localities, particularly in Wisconsin,
are no longer within the range of operation of any egg buyer. Nuisance complaints continue. Zoning is receiving considerable attention. Many manure deodorants, chemicals, and additives are being tried, but there is little information available to to evaluate them. Enrollment in 4-H programs is about stable. Poultry production and marketing projects appear to be losing ground while science projects are increasing. Non-commercial projects, such as pigeons, fancy birds, and game birds, are gaining acceptance fairly rapidly where they are being offered.
IN THE WEST J. V. SHUTZE Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado 80521
Most of the states in the West are deficit in the production of eggs, broilers, and turkeys. As a result, they have become a dumping ground for surplus producing states. Local producers are under considerable pressure because the two-price system is often used by those who ship into the area. There are too few feed mills in the west.
This has resulted in a lack of competition and high feed prices. The same is true for equipment and other services. In general, adequate records are not being kept by producers on small and medium-sized farms. Feed consumption, egg production, egg size, and mortality figures are not available to measure the profitability of a flock.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
J. L. SKINNER University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
25
EXTENSION SITUATIONS AND PROBLEMS
Disposal of waste, even in sparsely populated states, is a problem if proper attention is not given to the location of the poultry operation and the type of disposal
system. Because of a pollution problem, the Gates-Cyclo complex in Colorado has switched to a city-type disposal system.
IN THE FAR WEST R. A. ERNST University of California, Davis, California 95616
1—Marek's disease 2—Surplus production 3—Egg shell quality 4—Housing and ventilation 5—Fly control 6—External parasite control 7—Coryza 8—Cage density 9—Recycling 10—Salmonella 11—Albumen quality
Priority VH VH H H H M M M M M M
Ranking Range 1-6 1-S 1-8 2-7 1-10 3-11 3-14 3-13 4-10 5-12 6-12
12—Deboning fowl 13—Cage layer fatigue 14—Fatty liver syndrome
L L L
8-14 7-13 10-14
Another questionnaire was sent to egg, turkey, and fryer producers. Their reactions concerning the seriousness of general poultry problems were as follows: Priority 1—Public reaction to poultry ranches 2—Manure disposal 3—Marketing 4—Overproduction 5—Labor 6—Declining political influencf : 7—Promotion 8—Unified voice 9—Nutritional improvement
H H H H M M M M L
Ranking Range 1-9 1-8 1-7 •
—
•
2-8 2-8 3-8 1-8 3-8
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 22) and their productive attitude. (8) Market of cereal of Agriculture and Home Economics, Ohio Agriculfodders in the national, international and M.E.C. tural Research and Development Center, Ohio area. Cooperative Extension Service, and the Ohio Water Resources Center of the Ohio State University. The final program of the Symposium were Cooperating organizations are: Agricultural Reready by December 31. The translation will be search Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculsimultaneous in French, English and Italian lanture, American Agricultural Economics Association, guages. American Dairy Science Association, American SoLIVESTOCK WASTE SYMPOSIUM ciety for Microbiology, American Society of Animal Science, American Society of Civil Engineers, The International Symposium on Livestock American Veterinary Medical Association, CaWastes will be held at the Ohio State University nadian Society of Agricultural Engineers, CooperaCenter for Tomorrow, 2400 Olentangy River Road, tive State Research Service of the U.S. Department Columbus, Ohio, April 19-22. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service of the The Symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and the College U.S. Department of Agriculture, International Com(Continued on page 78)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
A questionnaire was sent to leaders in the California egg industry. They were asked to rank the following items from 1 to 14 according to the seriousness of the problem. A priority rating was then given to each item [very high (VH), high (H), medium (M),orlow(L)].
Members IN THE NORTHEAST H.
C.
WHELDEN
University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473
In the past five years, the Northeast has not expanded as rapidly in egg and broiler production as the average for the U.S. The 11 Northeastern states now produce about 15 percent of the country's total eggs and 16 percent of the broilers. The main problems facing the industry, as determined by a survey of poultry specialists in the Northeast, are public pressures, reduced margins for eggs, and transportation costs on grain. Public pressures are making the industry aware of its ecological responsibilities. These pressures are evidenced by stricter sanitary requirements, the need for better
ways to dispose of manure, and the generally poor reaction of the public toward poultry farms. Egg production in the U.S. has increased faster than the market demand. This has resulted in severe competition and as a result Northeastern poultrymen are looking for ways to reduce costs. There is a general trend, except in Maine, toward reducing costs by increasing the amount of mechanization. Transportation costs on grain shipped from the Midwest have contributed to high feed costs. The need exists to reduce this cost or at least eliminate further increases.
IN THE SOUTHEAST 0.
W.
CHARLES
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601
The problems in the Southeast might be
summarized as Men, Money, Marek's, and Manure. Men or people problems are mainly attitudes. Possibly this is due to faulty communications. It might begin with the poorly paid poultry farmer who just happens to be
"These summaries of the presentations given in the symposium at the 59th annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association, were prepared by H. S Johnson, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.
23
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
other areas of the country. Quite often, though, industry problems are not confined to one particular state or geographic area. Consequently, it is important that specialists find out what is going on in other areas and what is being done, and can be done, to solve a particular problem.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to examine the situations and problems in the five geographic areas of the U.S.—Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Far West. Normally poultry extension specialists do not have an opportunity to travel to
24
RUSSELL, WHELDEN, CHARLES, SKINNER, SHUTZE AND ERNST
a poor performer. Perhaps he is a poor performer because he does not understand what he should do or why he should do it. If this attitude begins on the farm, it can be passed on to farm youth and ultimately to the consumer. Money problems are difficult to separate from people problems because wages paid by the industry tend to create people problems. There seems to be a continual "hue
and cry" for increased contract payments. Marek's disease is the main disease problem, although other diseases are troublesome from time to time. Waste disposal in the Southeast is quite similar to that in other areas of the country. Farm level problems include excessive moisture, disposal, mechanical handling, and shortage of litter.
IN THE MIDWEST
The number of layers in the Midwest seems to be about stable. Those states that show an increase have a fairly large percentage of eggs being produced on contract. Turkey numbers are up in some states and down in others, but states with a substantial industry are generally increasing. The main disease problem in layers is Marek's, but coccidiosis is also a problem in some flocks. Quite a few pullets are being injected with turkey blood as a "preventative" for Marek's. Cholera continues to be the major problem in turkeys. It is difficult to market eggs in some areas due to the reduced number of buyers. Some localities, particularly in Wisconsin,
are no longer within the range of operation of any egg buyer. Nuisance complaints continue. Zoning is receiving considerable attention. Many manure deodorants, chemicals, and additives are being tried, but there is little information available to to evaluate them. Enrollment in 4-H programs is about stable. Poultry production and marketing projects appear to be losing ground while science projects are increasing. Non-commercial projects, such as pigeons, fancy birds, and game birds, are gaining acceptance fairly rapidly where they are being offered.
IN THE WEST J. V. SHUTZE Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado 80521
Most of the states in the West are deficit in the production of eggs, broilers, and turkeys. As a result, they have become a dumping ground for surplus producing states. Local producers are under considerable pressure because the two-price system is often used by those who ship into the area. There are too few feed mills in the west.
This has resulted in a lack of competition and high feed prices. The same is true for equipment and other services. In general, adequate records are not being kept by producers on small and medium-sized farms. Feed consumption, egg production, egg size, and mortality figures are not available to measure the profitability of a flock.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
J. L. SKINNER University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
25
EXTENSION SITUATIONS AND PROBLEMS
Disposal of waste, even in sparsely populated states, is a problem if proper attention is not given to the location of the poultry operation and the type of disposal
system. Because of a pollution problem, the Gates-Cyclo complex in Colorado has switched to a city-type disposal system.
IN THE FAR WEST R. A. ERNST University of California, Davis, California 95616
1—Marek's disease 2—Surplus production 3—Egg shell quality 4—Housing and ventilation 5—Fly control 6—External parasite control 7—Coryza 8—Cage density 9—Recycling 10—Salmonella 11—Albumen quality
Priority VH VH H H H M M M M M M
Ranking Range 1-6 1-S 1-8 2-7 1-10 3-11 3-14 3-13 4-10 5-12 6-12
12—Deboning fowl 13—Cage layer fatigue 14—Fatty liver syndrome
L L L
8-14 7-13 10-14
Another questionnaire was sent to egg, turkey, and fryer producers. Their reactions concerning the seriousness of general poultry problems were as follows: Priority 1—Public reaction to poultry ranches 2—Manure disposal 3—Marketing 4—Overproduction 5—Labor 6—Declining political influencf : 7—Promotion 8—Unified voice 9—Nutritional improvement
H H H H M M M M L
Ranking Range 1-9 1-8 1-7 •
—
•
2-8 2-8 3-8 1-8 3-8
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 22) and their productive attitude. (8) Market of cereal of Agriculture and Home Economics, Ohio Agriculfodders in the national, international and M.E.C. tural Research and Development Center, Ohio area. Cooperative Extension Service, and the Ohio Water Resources Center of the Ohio State University. The final program of the Symposium were Cooperating organizations are: Agricultural Reready by December 31. The translation will be search Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculsimultaneous in French, English and Italian lanture, American Agricultural Economics Association, guages. American Dairy Science Association, American SoLIVESTOCK WASTE SYMPOSIUM ciety for Microbiology, American Society of Animal Science, American Society of Civil Engineers, The International Symposium on Livestock American Veterinary Medical Association, CaWastes will be held at the Ohio State University nadian Society of Agricultural Engineers, CooperaCenter for Tomorrow, 2400 Olentangy River Road, tive State Research Service of the U.S. Department Columbus, Ohio, April 19-22. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service of the The Symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and the College U.S. Department of Agriculture, International Com(Continued on page 78)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on April 19, 2015
A questionnaire was sent to leaders in the California egg industry. They were asked to rank the following items from 1 to 14 according to the seriousness of the problem. A priority rating was then given to each item [very high (VH), high (H), medium (M),orlow(L)].