Animal Welfare and Management

As the Director of the North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Program and investigator on the associated test, I am providing the tool to address current industry production concerns.  This extension program has been ongoing since 1958 in cooperation with the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services along with the Primary Breeders of Commercial Egg Strains.  Thirty-eight flocks have been completed and a major facility remodel is underway.  The initial purpose of the test was to provide strain evaluations in a common environment to the producers in North Carolina.  However, in recent years, the test and the support it provides have given the industry an avenue to examine common problems with the housing alternative environments and management of the different strains of leghorns available.  There are two other tests in the world but this test is the only one of its type, scope, and distribution remaining in the world. The NCLP&MT reports are sent to all the producers in North Carolina and an additional 230 reports are sent to producers, industry representatives, and academics throughout the US and 16 different countries.  In 2012 every report published was posted onto the internet and an historical summary of the first 37 tests was compiled. The primary breeders and egg companies are utilizing the test in increasing intensity to compare and evaluate the strains and the different environments imposed on them.