Dervan Bryan
- Assistant Professor
University Park, PA 16802
- Email dfb5707@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-5540
Areas of Expertise
- Layer/Breeder Production
- Egg Production and Quality
- Poultry Management and Welfare
- Avian Nutritional Physiology and Metabolism
Websites
Education
- Ph.D., Animal Science, The University of Saskatchewan, 2018
- M.Sc., Animal Science, Dalhousie University, 2013
- B.Sc., Animal Science, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, 2011
Extension and Research Objectives
The focus of my extension and research programs is poultry production and management leveraging interdisciplinary opportunities for extension and research activities. The goal is to identify important poultry industry issues, develop innovative and meaningful poultry-relevant extension programs and implement those programs using modern online tools and face-to-face formats.
The main goal of the extension program is to build capacity in the poultry industry. This will be achieved through the training of qualified industry personnel, leadership development and information exchange with the poultry industry in Pennsylvania, across the US and globally. By leveraging the strengths of partners and collaborators we set to bring a full spectrum of research-driven solutions to the industry.
My research focuses on improving the efficiency and sustainability of poultry production systems. This is achieved through the manipulation of the animal's physiology via dietary, management and environmental strategies. As a trained nutritionist and production specialist my research explores the mechanisms of diet interaction with the gastrointestinal tract and its impact on the physiological response to nutrient absorption, retention, and the modification of poultry growth and reproductive efficiency under specific environmental conditions. A key area of my research seeks to improve our understanding of feeding the modern layer. The layer genetics found in the industry requires a new approach other than traditional nutrition. The modern layer demands it to be treated as a biological system that requires synchrony of nutrient delivery under the influence of various stressors and life stages. While nutrition is important such efforts cannot be effective in a production system without proper management of the entire system. Other research efforts are geared toward identifying and improving inefficiencies along the production chain. Using data to drive our decision-making when evaluating factors which can impact the profitability, quality, food safety and sustainability of the poultry industry.
Publications
The influence of indigestible protein on broiler digestive tract morphology and caecal protein fermentation metabolites
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., Abbott, Dawn A., Van Kessel, Andrew G., Classen, Henry L., 2020
In vitro methods of assessing protein quality for poultry
Animals, Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., Classen, Henry L., 2020
Nutritive Value of Expeller-Pressed Yellow Canola Meal for Broiler Chickens Following Enzyme Supplementation
Journal of Applied Poultry Research, Bryan, Dervan D.L.S., MacIsaac, Janice L., McLean, Nancy L., Rathgeber, Bruce M., Anderson, Derek M., 2019
Effect of protein sources on performance characteristics of turkeys in the first three weeks of life
Animal Nutrition, Ross, Megan L., Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., Abbott, Dawn A., Classen, Henry L., 2019
The influence of indigestible protein on the performance and meat quality of broilers vaccinated for coccidiosis
Poultry Science, Bryan, D. D.L.S., Abbott, D. A., Classen, H. L., 2019
In vivo digestion characteristics of protein sources fed to broilers
Poultry Science, Bryan, D. D.S.L., Abbott, D. A., Van Kessel, A. G., Classen, H. L., 2019
Digestion kinetics of protein sources determined using an in vitro chicken model
Animal Feed Science and Technology, Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., Abbott, Dawn A., Classen, Henry L., 2019
Development of an in vitro protein digestibility assay mimicking the chicken digestive tract
Animal Nutrition, Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., Abbott, Dawn A., Classen, Henry L., 2018
Meal residual oil level and heat treatment after oil extraction affects the nutritive value of expeller-pressed canola meal for broiler chickens
Canadian Journal of Animal Science, Bryan, Dervan D.S.L., MacIsaac, Janice L., Rathgeber, Bruce M., McLean, Nancy L., Anderson, Derek M., 2017