3/30/2011

Ground Broken on New Feed Mill Facility at Auburn University

AUBURN, Ala.—A March 30 groundbreaking ceremony at Auburn University marked the official beginning of construction on a new, $6.3-million feed mill that will help animal industries in Alabama and beyond provide the best feed possible.

The Auburn University Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center will be located north of Auburn, off Auburn Lakes Road.

Though high-quality, nutritious feed is key to the success of any poultry, livestock or aquaculture farming operation, few universities in the U.S. have focused their attention on this subject. With its strong academic programs in the animal sciences, including a comprehensive Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University recognized that need several years ago and began formulating plans for the cutting-edge animal nutrition center.

“This new facility significantly advances Auburn’s teaching, research and extension efforts in the critical areas of feed science, technology and manufacturing,” Don Conner, head of Auburn’s poultry science department, said.

A technical advisory committee comprised of poultry nutritionists and feed-milling personnel provided critical input on technical specifications for the center to ensure that both the design and equipment are optimal for meeting the industry’s needs now and well into the future.

The center’s unique modular design will allow for the flexibility needed in a research and educational feed mill, and all equipment will represent industry standards to assure that the center will effectively serve the needs of the industry. Major feed-mill equipment suppliers are helping equip this facility. The feed mill, which is scheduled for completion in December 2011, will be the first poultry science facility at Auburn’s north campus,

“Today is a milestone in achieving a much-needed research and teaching poultry and animal nutrition center,” Conner said. “This facility will be a flagship academic-industry feed mill facility for the Southeast and will provide a unique opportunity to advance all of our academic programs to enable Auburn to better serve our clientele.”

The Auburn University Board of Trustees recognized the long-standing partnership between Auburn University’s poultry science department and the state’s poultry industry, as well as the leadership the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association provided in supporting the feed mill project. On June 18, 2010, the board passed a resolution naming the main building of this center as the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Feed Mill and Animal Nutrition Building.

The new facility will offer the technology and equipment to meet research needs, expand Auburn’s outreach efforts via industry short courses for the feed and poultry industries, provide Auburn students with hands-on training in feed manufacturing and science, enhance outreach and proprietary research programs via contracting/leasing arrangements between Auburn and private companies and provide feed for Auburn University’s research and teaching animals.

The center is funded through Auburn University monies, private donations and in-kind equipment donations, and fundraising efforts are continuing. For more information on the feed mill, contact Conner at 334-844-2639 or connede@auburn.edu, or visit www.ag.auburn.edu/poul to learn more about Auburn’s Poultry Science Department.

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OFFICE OF AG COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 COMER HALL, AUBURN UNIVERSITY
AUBURN, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
AgComm@auburn.edu