Nottingham Trent University opens new poultry research unit

The purpose-built, single-storey unit will comprise of two pen rooms, a biological sampling area, bespoke laboratory, feed manufacture, feed storage areas and office space.

It is part of the university’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences and will have strong links to the UK animal feed industry, as well as benefiting multinational companies, local businesses and students.

Dr Emily Burton, head of the poultry research unit, said the university already provided a vital role for both industry technologists and scientists to explore the interplay between nutrition, welfare and sustainability in poultry production.

“This important new facility, with its increased capacity, will allow us to enhance our research even further, for the benefit of the global industry. We will be able to undertake more collaborations, such as with developing countries, where our research could allow families to improve their efficiency of poultry rearing.”

Previous poultry research at Nottingham Trent University has identified how superdosing poultry diets with the enzyme phytase could result in huge savings for the sector and how specially-bred wheat could help provide some of the key nutrients essential for healthy bones in poultry, reducing the need for supplements.