speakers at 2012 APSS

INFORMAL FORUM - SUNDAY EVENING PRE REGISTRATION

Global Challenges in Poultry Production

Dr Mamduh Sifri

Dr. Mamduh Sifri graduated from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon with a Bachelor of Science , Agricultural Engineering and Master of Science in Poultry Nutrition and Management. He then received his PhD in Poultry Nutrition with Biochemistry from the North Dakota State University. Dr. Sifri has worked as a research scientist with NASA and the NIH at the University of Californa, Davis and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is currently the Director of Poultry and Specialty Marketing at ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc and is the Chairman for the Annual PSA Informal Nutritional Symposium committee. Mamduh is also a “Poultry Science Association Fellow” for his distinguished contributions to the field of poultry science along with being on the review board for leading international scientific journals.

MAIN THEMES - MONDAY 20th - WEDNESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2011

Free-range compared with Conventional Poultry Production

Prof Birger Sivihus

Professor Birger Svihus graduated from the Agricultural University of Norway in 1991 with a degree in Animal Science, and completed his PhD in Poultry Nutrition at the same University in 1997. He is currently a Professor with the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway. He is the author or co-author of around 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and is the author of or contributor to several books.

He was the president of World’s Poultry Science Association (Norwegian branch) from 1996 to 2009 and is vice-president of the European Federation of WPSA. His current interest is the interaction between diet, feeding pattern and the anterior digestive tract.

Dr Juha Apalajahti

Dr Juha Apajalahti obtained his PhD (1987) at the University of Helsinki, Department of general Microbiology on isolation, characterization and metabolism of a bacterium degrading polychrolinated phenolic compounds. His post doctoral period 1988-1989 at Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University deepened his understanding on strictly anaerobic microbial communities and methods for assessing their dynamics. He started to apply DNA based approaches to study microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of different production animals and man 20 years ago while working at Cultor Corporation Research Centre (Cultor was a mother of many companies operating in feed business e.g. Finnfeeds Ltd and Ewos Ltd) in 1989-2003, starting as a project manager and finally acting as the Director of Danisco Innovation (Danisco acquired Cultor).
In 2003, he founded Alimetrics, a company providing microbiological research services for industry and academia, where he since then has worked as the Chief Scientific Officer. He has close to 100 publications most of which are peer-reviewed and he has been an invited speaker for various scientific conferences worldwide. His current research interests focus on the interaction between the gastrointestinal tract microbial community and host animal in health and disease.

Feed Additives: Mythbusters

Prof Michael Kidd

Professor Michael Kidd completed Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University of Arkansas in the early 1990s, both with an emphasis on poultry science. Prof. Kidd then went on to read for a PhD at North Carolina State University with a major in nutrition and a minor in immunology. Prof. Kidd worked for 5 years as the Research Director for Nutri-Quest in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by 10 years as Department Head and Professor at Mississippi State University before taking up his current role as Department Head and Professor at the University of Arkansas.

Prof Kidd has over 350 published articles including over 130 in peer-reviewed international journals. His current research emphasis is broiler and turkey amino acid, mineral and enzyme nutrition, broiler and turkey breeder management and nutrition, and avian immunology and health.

Dr Mike Bedford

Dr Michael Bedford obtained his BSc at the University of Nottingham in animal physiology, nutrition and production, followed by a MSc at the University of Guelph in poultry amino acid nutrition supervised by J.D. Summers in 1984. He completed his PhD also at the University of Guelph on the Interaction between nutrition and polyamines. Mike followed his PhD with post doctoral positions at the Macdonald College at McGill and the University of Saskatchewan. He then took on the role of R&D Manager at Finnfeeds International involving new product development and technical support for enzyme products for poultry, swine and ruminants. In 2001 he then moved to Syngenta/Zymetrics as Director of Feed Applications R&D, involving enzyme product development and support information for product launches.
He is currently the Director of Research with AB Vista Feed Ingredients developing feed enzyme and yeast products for monogastric applications. He has over 200 publications to his name including more than 80 fully refereed journal articles principally in the field of enzymes. He also has more than 30 popular press articles and 3 book chapters along with a book “Enzymes in farm animal nutrition” 2nd edition recently published (Dec 2010). Mike is a recognised authority in avian nutrition and feed additive biochemistry.

Dr Greg Siragusa

Dr Gregory Siragusa obtained his PhD (1989) from the University of Arkansas in Food Microbiology. He also holds the BS and MS degrees in Microbiology from the Louisiana State University. For seventeen years he was a Research Microbiologist and Lead Scientist with the Agricultural Research Service at Clay Center, Nebraska with the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and the Poultry Microbiology Unit in Athens, Georgia. In 2007 he left the ARS to join Agtech Products of Waukesha, WI where he was the Director of Poultry R&D as well as Food Quality and Safety. He specializes in Gut Microbial Ecology and its relationships to Poultry Health and the development of intestinal flora and probiotic approaches to gut modulation in modern production.
In addition, Greg collaborates with both university and government researchers in immunology, bacteriophage of clostridia and poultry intestinal disease related to dysbacteriosis. Greg has written over a hundred scientific research papers, abstracts and chapters as well developed food safety diagnostic devices. Currently, following acquisitions by Danisco and then DuPont, Greg has two roles; managing the Poultry Microbiology R&D Unit along with time spent in developing new food antimicrobials working with teams based in Russia and Kenya.

HOT TOPICS

Retailer Pressure and global commodity markets – a ticking bomb

Dr Ian Lean

Dr. Ian Lean graduated from the University of Sydney (1979), spent time in veterinary practice and is a past president of the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians and the Cattle Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. He has been on faculty at Universities of California and the University of Sydney. Ian completed his PhD in 1990 at University of California in Davis with majors in Nutrition and Epidemiology. Professor Lean is a registered specialist in Medicine and Management of Cattle. He has over 200 scientific articles in international scientific journals. Ian was awarded the Gilruth Prize, the Australian Veterinary professions highest honour and in 2010 the Australian Dairy Science Award. Ian has been the keynote speaker at numerous international conferences in the USA, EU, South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, presenting on nutrition, reproduction, health, meta-analysis and study design. Since 1990, Ian has been active in discussing the implications of increasing population on food availability and the roles of technology and activism in addressing these.

Dr Nan-Dirk Mulder

Nan-Dirk Mulder graduated in agricultural economics, marketing and market research from the Netherlands’ Wageningen Agricultural University in 1996. Before his appointment at Rabobank International in 2001, Nan-Dirk worked for the Product Boards for Livestock, Meat and Eggs (PVE) and the Agricultural Economic Research Institute (LEI) in the Netherlands.

Nan-Dirk has extensive experience advising companies on strategic issues for the PVE (in animal protein) and for LEI (in fresh produce). Nan-Dirk is currently Associate Director – Food and Agribusiness Research & Advisory with Rabobank International and specialises in animal feed and protein. Nan-Dirk also contributes regularly to Rabobank’s publications and research reports and represents Rabobank on conferences and seminars in all regions in the world.

Laying Hens: Current Issues and Opportunities

James Kellaway

James Kellaway is the executive director of AECL and has extensive experience in rural commodity and product marketing with industry organisations including Horticulture Australia Limited, the former Australian Horticultural Corporation, Meat & Livestock Australia, the former Australian Meat & Livestock corpoation and the NSW Meat Industry Authority. James has been responsible for implementing industry based marketing communication programs and member services.These roles had a key focus on delivering commercial results to all company stakeholders.
James has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Technology Sydney , a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the Graduate School of Management at Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture from the University of Western Sydney . James is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
He is also Chairman of the Animal Health Australia (AHA) Industry Forum, a director of the Australian Poultry Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) and the Australian Livestock Export Corporation Limited and on the board selection committees of AHA and the Primary Industries Education Foundation.

Dr Michael Elliot

Dr. Michael Elliot of A&E Nutrition Services, LLC is an independent nutrition consultant working primarily in the egg industry. Prior to embarking out on his own Dr. Elliot was the Director of Technical Services for Wengers’ Feed Mill, Inc. in Rheems, Pennsylvania for eight years. His responsibilities included nutrition program development, laboratory services, and feed mill quality control. He was also responsible for developing the technical focus for feed and premix sales and service. Prior to joining Wengers Dr. Elliot was the NAFTA region Technical Services Director for Degussa Corporation in Kennesaw, Georgia. In this capacity he directed Degussa’s technical service and research activities in the NAFTA region. Dr. Elliot received his Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition from the University of Georgia in 1992.

Presidents' Address

Prof Robert Pym

Professor Robert Pym graduated from the University of New England with a Bachelor of Rural Science in 1965, after which he joined the NSW Dept. of Agriculture as a Livestock Research Officer in poultry genetics. He completed a MSc. in 1971 and a PhD in 1978 focussed on genetic and physiological aspects of feed utilisation efficiency and body composition of meat chickens. He was appointed a Senior Lecturer in Poultry Science with the University of Queensland in 1984. He retired in 2008 but since the 1970’s has had an avid interest in small-scale family poultry farmers in developing countries. He was president of Australian Branch of WPSA from 1993 to 2009 and a member of the Australian Egg Industry Research and Development Council from 1989 to 1998. Bob was award the Australian Poultry Award in 1995. He was periodically an editor of the Australian Poultry Science Symposium between 1998 and 2007 and is on the International Editorial Board of World’s Poultry Science Journal.
In 2000 he headed the successful bid for the 23rd World’s Poultry Congress and was Chair of the Congress held in Brisbane in 2008. At the Congress Bob was elected Global President of WPSA and his term of office runs until August 2012. He has supervised 23 successful postgraduate students, published widely and has been invited to speak at numerous international conferences and meetings since the early 1980’s.

Dr Trevor Bagust

Dr Trevor Bagust graduated as a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in Brisbane in 1966 and went on to complete a PhD in animal virology (bovine and equine herpesviruses) at the University of Queensland in 1970. Trevors was recruited by CSIRO where his work focussed on avian research, vaccine production and exotic disease diagnosis. Trevor initiated CSIRO’s program of research into major infectious diseases in the Australian poultry industry. From 1988-1996 Trevor was the Director of the Australia-China Poultry Project, mediated through the Australian development agency AusAID and in 1997 Trevor was honoured by the Australian Veterinary Association with the Kesteven Medal in recognition of his outstanding achievements in international animal health development assistance. In 1996 Trevor became a Senior Lecturer with the University of Melbourne, where he works currently. He has developed a Master of Veterinary Studies course, published more than 150 scientific publications and has been a central figure in establishing Avian Health Online. Trevor will assume the Global Presidency of WVPA from August 2011 where he will continue to further enhance the prominence of WVPA in avian health science globally.