Alexa Thomas Spring 2023

Author: Alexa Thomas | Major: Animals Science: pre-professional | Semester: Spring 2023

My name is Alexa Thomas. I am a Class of 2025 Animal Science: Pre-professional student. I am doing research under Dr. Adnan Alrubaye (AKA Dr Al) who is testing preventative measures against lameness in broiler chickens. I am very grateful to Dr. Alrubaye for taking me on to the complexities of his research. Dr. Alrubaye is an Assistant Professor of Poultry Microbiology and Associate Director of Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology. I just started my research with him in the spring of 2023 and I am excited to continue research in the future semesters.

I met Dr. Alrubaye in the fall of 2022 in the domestic animal microbiology class. Dr. Al taught both the lecture and the lab for this class, so I got to work with him closely during the semester. The lab was my favorite part, being able to do hands on work with bacteria and learn the ins and outs of research techniques. It was during this time that I learned of Dr. Al’s research and decided that I wanted to help him and his team. I then began research with him the semester after, spring 2023.

In My research this semester I have participated in two of Dr. Alrubaye’s trials. The first trial was based on how certain feed additives in broilers feed affect the growth of Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis lameness in poultry. In this trial we tested the effectiveness of Zinpro’s (a feed Company) lameness prevention feed additives. We also were testing to see if changing the time in the broiler’s life would change the effectiveness of the feed. So, during this trial we had half of the pens on the basic feed and the other half on the feed with the additives. Then after the first 28 days or the growth phase of the broilers life we swapped some of the pen’s feed. This showed us that the feed additives are more effective when given during the first 28 days of a chicken’s lifespan,

The second trial was about looking at genetics, and over all biomechanics of broiler chickens to prepare for creating a vaccine that prevents lameness in poultry. Our goal was to determine any genetic defects or other predisposing factors that could lead to lameness in broilers. Unfortunately, I do not have the results of this trial yet, but I trust they will be shared once reviewed further.

The two trials are only the beginning of what Dr. Alrubaye, and his team want to achieve. By continuing this research, we are helping the poultry community fight one of the leading issues in poultry production. The development of a possible vaccine and other mechanisms of prevention of lameness, will help poultry farms produce more product, more efficiently. Lameness is the cause of thousands of dollars lost each year for poultry farmers. So, this research is extremely important to the agriculture community which is my future niche.

I plan to continue research with Dr. Alrubaye and his team until I am done with my honors thesis. I hope to learn much more from them and gain experience in this field.