Mississippi State undergrads recognized for poultry research

STARKVILLE, Miss —Two Mississippi State undergraduate scholars are being recognized by the Southern Poultry Science Society with top awards for their research presentations at the International Poultry Scientific Forum.

Josie Gamble of Laurel and Lauren Lindsey of Gardendale, Alabama, are winners in the Don R. Sloan Undergraduate Research Recognition Program. Among 20 students representing universities throughout the U.S., Gamble earned the Don R. Sloan Undergraduate Research Poster Presentation Award, while Lindsey claimed the Don R. Sloan Oral Presentation Award.

Each received a certificate and a monetary award in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this semester.

“The outstanding research presented by Lauren and Josie is a significant honor for our university,” said Mary Beck, MSU professor and head of the Department of Poultry Science. “Students of this caliber definitely help put us on the map.”

The Department of Poultry Science in MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of six degree-granting poultry programs in the U.S. Students may choose to concentrate in applied poultry management or science/pre-veterinary science.

Gamble is a junior poultry science major with a pre-veterinary concentration. The current president of MSU’s Poultry Science Club won for her poster presentation titled “In ovo injected Bacillus subtilis probiotic serotypes alter broiler hatchability and intestinal microflora.”

“For my research, I injected different serotypes of Bacillus subtilis probiotic bacteria into Ross 708 fertilized eggs using in ovo or in-the-egg technology,” Gamble said. “Upon hatching, chicks were weighed and counted to calculate a percentage of hatch of transfer along with other hatched characteristics.”

Aaron Kiess, MSU associate professor of poultry science and Gamble’s mentor, said, “There are several things that set Josie apart for this award. She is very intelligent, has a great work ethic and determination. Josie was involved in all steps of the process as she worked alongside me, two graduate students, and other students who were part of this research. It takes a special kind of person to step up and not get intimated by her superiors, as well as to present research effectively.”

Lindsey is a senior biological sciences major with a minor in Spanish. Her research, titled “Embryonic and neonatal body temperature profiles of the broiler chicken,” sought to determine if lowering incubation temperature has a direct effect on the body temperature of a broiler embryo throughout incubation and if it impacts hatching performance.

“Lauren has displayed an excellent ability to clearly and succinctly give a presentation, as well as the ability to think outside of the box,” said Edgar Peebles, MSU professor of poultry science and Lindsey’s research mentor.

For more information on MSU’s poultry science department, visit www.poultry.msstate.edu.