Questions

What kind of work does your research group conduct?
Our research group has been conducting research in the field of Precision Poultry Management. We develop and utilize smart technologies to automatically measure animal-based outcomes which allow us to optimize the poultry management practices and provide farmers with timely assistance in decision making. We also work on monitoring poultry housing environment and understanding the mechanisms of poultry disease transmission through air. The ultimate goal of our program is to enhance production efficiency, animal welfare, and animal health in poultry industry.

What lead to your research?
Interest, passion, and maybe destiny. As a boy born in the Year of Rooster, I enjoyed the rooster and hens at my grandma’s backyard thirty years ago. The most exciting thing was always to check the nest box and collect eggs when I heard hens cackling. Honestly, I never thought of my future career in poultry at that time; but when I look back, everything is just like destiny. Comparing our life nowadays with years ago, we are using more and more smart technologies to assist with our daily chores and save time for things we love. I’ve been interested in these smart technologies and am amazed by how they could ease my life. I realize that these technologies could also be solutions to labor-intensive industries, like the poultry industry that I have passions for. And this is probably the reason I started working on Precision Poultry Management five years ago.

Where do you see your field in 10 years?
Global demand on poultry products will keep growing fast. While the poultry industry continues to expand and meet this ever-increasing demand, it faces huge challenges such as the shortage of skilled labor, efficient flock maintenance and resource utilization, societal concerns over animal welfare, and resiliency to adverse conditions such as pandemic or disease outbreaks. Precision Poultry Management will play a central role in addressing the abovementioned challenges. With the assistance of Precision Poultry Management technologies being developed, we may see a shift of farmer working environment (from animal house to office or home), fully automated monitoring and control for animal and housing management, and efficient and healthy poultry production with less environmental footprint. We will see more and more animal scientists, agricultural engineers, veterinaries, and computer engineers working together in the field of Precision Poultry Management in the next 10 years and beyond.

Who are your lab members?
Dr. Tan Watcharaanantapong, Research Associate
Xiao Yang, PhD candidate (expect to graduate in December 2021)
Xuan Dung Nguyen, PhD student (third year)
Shengyu Zhou, PhD student (first year)
Ashton Fowler, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Garrett Henniger, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Tanner Thornton, Undergraduate Research Assistant