During fall, many backyard flock owners ask, "Why have my hens stopped laying?" Several factors may cause the reduction in egg laying, says LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Dr. Theresia Lavergne.

To understand nutrient management, you must first understand what nutrients are. Nutrients are substances that are essential for plant growth such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (potash).

The LSU AgCenter 4-H and FFA Junior Showmanship show gives members a chance to show their broilers. This guide shows how to handle your broiler for exhibition showmanship.

4-H and FFA members share their experiences raising and showing poultry at the LSU AgCenter Junior Showmanship Show.

The LSU AgCenter 4-H and FFA Junior Showmanship show gives members a chance to show their broilers. This guide shows how to handle your broiler for exhibition showmanship.

The dollar amounts, which are estimates of reduced revenue and increased costs, are broken down by storm and commodity. Total estimated costs are also provided.

Most of us involved in agriculture are aware of environmental concerns related to production agriculture. Regulatory proposals involving animal agriculture, such as poultry production, have caused concerns throughout the poultry-producing area of Louisiana.

Poultry litter and soil testing are the foundation of a sound nutrient management program. Poultry litter testing and soil testing are important best management practices (BMPs), and they are essential components of a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP). This publication includes information on the correct procedures of poultry sampling.

These links provide useful information on controlling poultry houses and ventilation.

Other universities and extension services throughout the United States have produced quality materials on poultry nutrition. This list of links showcases some of that work.

The primary objective of producing broilers is to optimize growth. Find information on housing, brooding, heating, lighting, feeders and waterers, feeds and feeding, and health.

Louisiana livestock and poultry producers must be aware of certain regulatory issues concerning federal environmental laws.

These links lead to some useful information at North Carolina State University, the USDA and the LSU AgCenter Calhoun Extension Office.

The purpose of this study is to analyze broiler industry executives’ decisions on where to locate a broiler complex in the United States. The specific objectives are to identify factors affecting site locations of broiler complexes in the United States and to measure the effects and relative importance of these factors on the broiler complex location decision.

A CNMP is a plan that helps you make the best use of manure, fertilizers and other nutrient sources while protecting water resources.

All commercial poultry producers are required by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Livestock Sanitary Board regulation (Lac 7:1171) to obtain a certificate of approval for disposal of dead poultry.

Poultry production is the Louisiana’s largest animal industry – a spot it’s held for the past five years – and its $1.24 billion contribution to the state’s economy makes it the second-largest segment of the Louisiana’s agricultural industries.

Poultry production is the largest animal industry in Louisiana. In poultry production, there are issues of special concern to the environment. Best Management Practices (BMPs) focus on three main areas: Nutrient Management, Pesticide Management and Mortality Management.

The focus of this issue is the nonruminant farm animal, which includes chickens, horses and pigs. The nonruminant animal has an uncomplicated or simple stomach as compared to the ruminant animal, which has a stomach with four compartments (cattle, sheep and goats). The nonruminant also is referred to as a monogastric.

Louisiana poultry growers and others in the industry are looking for more “environmentally friendly” alternatives to those convenionally used to handle the volume of poultry litter generated by the industry. This publication provides information on the methods and results of an LSU AgCenter research and demonstration project on in-house pasteurization of broiler litter. (PDF Format Only)

There may be an easy and inexpensive way for poultry producers with naturally ventilated houses to reduce heat stress related mortality in birds as well as increase bird performance in summer. This publication explains how producers can reduce the heat by installing three or four short migration fences, like those placed in tunnel ventilated houses.

Trace minerals are important nutrients in diets for swine and poultry. They are required for growth, bone development, feathering in chickens, enzyme structure and function, and appetite. Over the past 20 years, scientists in the LSU AgCenter have played an important role in understanding the need for and use of trace minerals in diets for animals.

Top exhibitors of market animals received scholastic premiums of more than $44,000 Saturday (Feb. 18) at the conclusion of the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.The scholastic awards, which ranged from $1,500 to $5,500 for individual winners, went to 4-H and FFA youth who showed champion market animals during the Feb. 11-18 events that included competition for beef and dairy cattle, goats, hogs, poultry and sheep.

Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during a week of competition at the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

The poultry industry is the largest animal agricultural industry in Louisiana and is second only to forestry in total income produced by all agricultural commodities. Louisiana poultry growers produce almost 1 billion pounds of broiler meat each year. The size of the poultry industry in Louisiana has raised concerns about the management of large quantities of litter (mixture of poultry manure and bedding material).

Genetic selection of broiler chickens for production performance has been associated with changes in their behavior. Traits such as aggres-siveness, mating behavior, fearfulness (propensity to be easily frightened), feather pecking and sociality vary considerably within genetic strains. Many of these traits can exert profound effects on the welfare and productivity of farmed poultry because they influence the birds’ ability to adapt to their social and physical environment.

Phytate is a compound found in many common feed ingredients that decreases nutrient availability in animal diets. The main anti-nutritional effect of phytate is that it makes phytate phosphorus unavailable for digestion and absorption by nonruminants such as swine and poultry. Phytate also has negative effects on digestive enzymes, trace minerals, calcium, protein and amino acids, and carbohydrates.

BATON ROUGE – Six students received top honors Saturday, winning the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 69th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.