R. Michael Hulet

Program Objectives

Extension

The objective of the extension program is to provide leadership and information to the poultry meat industry on a state, national and international basis. The strategies used to accomplish this objective are as follows: research at University Park in association with local, national, and international collaborators; field trials, evaluations of different production practices and educational programs organized and conducted to address current research and issues; new opportunities; and reviews of continuing management programs.

Teaching

Primary instructor and organizer of ANSC 311 , Poultry Production and Management.

Research

Grants in a variety of different areas show the wide breadth of issues that are facing the poultry industry. Other issues involve energy efficiency and bacterial and viral control by vegetative buffers, evaluation of vegetative buffer litter, evaluation of finishing drinker equipment for turkeys, and evaluation of antibiotic-free and organic husbandry methods. Studies on post-hatch effects of incubation treatments will also be conducted in association with faculty and graduate students from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Accomplishments

• Excellence in teaching animal science courses.
• Conducted successful educational activities: PA Game Breeders and Hunting Preserves Conference, National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, Poultry Sales and Service Conference, Incubation and Hatchery Meeting, and Poultry Management & Health Seminars.
• Regular evaluation of hatcheries through Pennsylvania and throughout the country have been successful in training personnel and adoption of changes in management resulting in improved hatchability and chick/poult quality.

Future Plans

Future plans will continue to focus on factors that affect bird performance and carcass yield. Ongoing programs in ventilation, lighting, and the management of hatcheries and breeders will continue. Studies using turkey nipple and bell-shaped open drinkers will be conducted with market hens. Research and development of information to enable improved handling, transportation, biosecurity, and depopulation of poultry are planned for the next few years.

Recent Publications

Adrizal, P. H. Patterson, R. M. Hulet , R. M. Bates, D. A. Despot, E. F. Wheeler, and P. A. Topper and J. Thompson. 2008. The potential for plants to trap emissions from farms with laying hens: 2. dust and ammonia. Jr. Appl. Poultry Res. 17:398-411.

Adrizal, A., P. H. Patterson, R. M. Hulet , R. M. Bates, C. A. B. Myers, G. P. Martin, R. L. Shockey, M. van der Grinten, D. A. Anderson, and J. R. Thompson. 2008. Vegetative buffers for fan emissions from poultry farms: 2. ammonia, dust and foliar nitrogen. J. Environ. Sci. Health-B. 43:96-103.

Patterson, P. H., Adrizal, R. M. Hulet , R. M. Bates, D. A. Despot, E. F. Wheeler, and P. A. Topper. 2008. The potential for plants to trap emissions from farms with laying hens. 1. ammonia. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 17:54-63.

Patterson, P. H., Adrizal, R. M. Hulet , C. A. B. Myers, G. P. Martin, R. L. Shockey, and M. van der Grinten. 2008. Vegetative buffers for fan emissions from poultry farms: 1. temperature and foliar nitrogen. J. Environ. Sci. Health-B. 43:199-204.

Hulet, R. M. 2007. Managing incubation: where are we and why? Poult. Sci. 86:1017-1019.

Hulet, R. M. 2007. Nutritional strategies to improve growth and efficiency of hen turkeys. Turkey Production: Current Challenges. H. M. Hafez, ed. Institute of Poultry Diseases, Free Berlin University, Berlin, Germany, IBSN-10:3-86664-356-X.

Hulet, R. M., G. Gladys, D. Hill, R. Meijerhof, and T. El-Sheikh. 2007. Influence of egg-shell embryonic incubation temperature and breeder flock age on post-hatch growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers. Poult. Sci. 86:408-412.