Unlocking Chicken Diets: University of Georgia’s ChickEES Study Invites Farmers’ Participation
If you are among the many who raise free-range or pastured chickens on your commercial farm, the University of Georgia (UGA) is interested in learning about your chickens’ diets. Researchers at UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have launched a project that seeks to examine the role of these chickens in ecosystem health.
The initiative, known as the Chicken Ecology and Ecosystem Services (ChickEES) study, aims to analyze chicken droppings to reveal what these birds are consuming. This undertaking leverages the expertise of a diverse team of faculty specializing in ecological research, poultry nutrition, consumer behavior, and more.
Participate in the Study: Get Your Chicken Dinner Meal Kit
Leading the effort is Sofia Varriano, a doctoral student in the Department of Entomology. Alongside her colleagues, Varriano is gathering and scrutinizing chicken feces from farms across Georgia and Florida. To broaden their data set, the research team is distributing 100 “Chicken Dinner Meal Kits,” which contain all the supplies needed to participate: sample containers filled with a DNA shield buffer, gloves, and a scoop.
“These kits are provided free of charge. Growers can easily request a kit via our website,” Varriano noted. Participants will collect samples of chicken droppings, which will be analyzed to decipher the dietary intake of their poultry.
The Science Behind the Samples: DNA Analysis
Each sample kit includes a prepaid return label for easy shipping back to the researchers. The analysis involves extracting DNA from the samples and subsequently sending them to a sequencing lab. Varriano explained, “We will conduct the bioinformatics work ourselves using a custom CO1 library designed to identify and classify the species in the samples.” The CO1 gene is a commonly used marker for recognizing genetic material across various species.
Exploring Sustainability Through Chicken Diets
By requesting these samples from a wider community of producers, the research aims to garner broader geographical insights into chicken diets, comparing data from different regions. “We want to see how chicken diets vary from the East Coast to the West Coast,” Varriano elaborated.
There are no fees involved for producers wishing to participate, and they will receive comparative data on how their chicken’s natural diets impact overall health. Producers selling to consumers will be asked screening questions regarding their chicken management strategies, allowing researchers to compile comprehensive data for analysis.
For more details on participating in the ChickEES study and to request your Chicken Dinner Meal Kit, visit chickendinner.uga.edu.
Source: University of Georgia
This structured article is ready for seamless integration into WordPress and includes appropriate headings, links, and formatting for readability.
