A new poultry research unit, said to be one of just a handful of its kind in Europe, has opened at Nottingham Trent University and will focus on improving the nutrition, welfare and sustainability of poultry production.
The unit, part of the university’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, will concentrate on tackling poultry industry research needs by using feed and nutrition as a tool to improve welfare and to increase environmental and economic sustainability of poultry production.
It replaces the current, much smaller poultry research unit – housed in a Victorian farmyard – which will be redeveloped as part of the ongoing regeneration of the campus.
The purpose-built single-storey unit comprises two pen rooms with biological sampling rooms and a bespoke laboratory, a feed manufacture room, feed storage areas and office space.
According to the university, it has “very strong links to the animal feed industry and benefits local businesses, multinational companies and students”.
The new unit has increased feed manufacture capability and houses specialist equipment capable of using the latest techniques and smallest possible sample sizes for nutritional analysis.
It is also part of the university’s multimillion pound redevelopment of the Brackenhurst Campus, which was revealed last year.
Dr Emily Burton, head of the Poultry Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, commented: “We provide a vital platform for both industry technologists and scientists to explore the interplay between nutrition, welfare and sustainability of poultry production.
“This important new facility, with its increased capacity, will allow us to enhance our research event further, for the benefit of global industry impact.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
