Join the Prestage Department of Poultry Science for a seminar presentation titled “Physiological regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in commercial laying hens through an extended production cycle” given by Dr. Laura Ellestad, Associate Professor, University of Georgia. The event will be held from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. in 216 Scott Hall as well as via Zoom Meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 992 9626 9875
Passcode: 978623

About the Speaker:

Dr. Laura Ellestad received her M.S. in Aquaculture Nutrition and Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Maryland. She is currently an associate professor in the Poultry Science Department at the University of Georgia who specializes in the endocrine regulation of economically important traits in poultry. She uses broiler chickens, laying hens, and in vitro cell culture systems as models to identify physiological regulators of key production parameters (growth, nutrient uptake & utilization, feed efficiency, egg production) and animal well-being (skeletal integrity, response to heat stress, intestinal health and function). The seminar will highlight her lab’s recent work with laying hens that has uncovered the dynamic physiological regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis associated with eggshell formation and how this changes throughout the hen’s egg producing life, from the onset of lay around 18 – 20 weeks of age through extended laying periods lasting up to 95 weeks of age. Specific hormonal and molecular regulators were identified that can be used as targets to develop strategies aimed at improving laying hen welfare and eggshell quality, particularly in older hens where these are important issues in the table egg industry.