Thrill-seeking and novelty is not specific to humans. In fact, many animals also display this curiosity toward unknown objects. In animal behavior, this concept is called the paradox of novelty.
I’m still new to the idea of hurricanes because I grew up in the Midwest. Yes, I’ve lived through countless blizzards, ice storms and the occasional tornado, but never hurricanes. Now, living in North Carolina, hurricane season has become a very real part of my life.
In keeping up with market demands, some unintended consequences that are becoming evident must be addressed for the health of our bird populations and industry alike, especially as it relates to leg health and bird mobility.
Dropped crops range in severity from a barely noticeable bump, to an obvious, pendulous crop that hangs down off the front of the bird. The pendulous crop can cause meat quality issues and poses severe threat to bird health.
One of my favorite daytime cooking shows discussed how the brown shell, the organic farm status and deep orange color meant that eggs were fresh. Wait a minute! None of those things are true indicators of freshness in eggs.
The term muscle myopathy is used to describe conditions associated with muscle weakness or changes in muscle mass in meat production. Fast growth rate is one of the many factors related to muscle myopathies in a multitude of farm production species.
Genetic selection, nutrition, stocking density, well-being, social interactions between birds and many other factors play a role in the production processes of poultry operations; however, the forgotten hero in the mix is feathers and their importance in the production process.
