New grant to improve hen health and productivity

Wednesday 7th February 2018, 11:00am

Scientists at Roslin and two other institutions receive funding from FFAR to improve health and productivity of egg-laying hens.

photo of white and brown eggs - credit University of Edinburgh

improving health

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded three grants totalling $1.4 million to The Roslin Institute, Purdue University and University of California, Davis, respectively, to improve the health and productivity of egg-laying hens.



Dr Ian Dunn from The Roslin Institute and collaborators at the major poultry genetics companies Hy-Line and Lohmann Tierzucht, will lay the groundwork for breeding hens with stronger bones by developing a novel x-ray based measurement system adapted for on-farm use.

"We know that bone quality in hens can be improved by genetic selection as well as improving the environment. The major obstacle has been finding a way of measuring bone quality in a living hen that is practical. This project aims to deliver a practical and reliable method to give breeders the tools to improve bone quality and reduce fractures."

Dr Ian Dunn, The Roslin Institute

"The FFAR is pleased to support Dr. Dunn’s innovative approach to reducing bone fractures in egg-laying hens, a phenomenon that harms both productivity and hen health. Today’s farmers and ranchers face new challenges arising from a changing production environment, and cutting edge research remains critical to providing producers with science-based solutions to those challenges."

Dr Sally Rockey, Executive Director at FFAR

These grants support the FFAR Protein Challenge, which aims to enhance and improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of producing diverse proteins for a growing global population.

The grants were funded by a partnership with the Open Philanthropy Project designed to improve the welfare and productivity of egg-laying hens and commercially raised pigs. The partnership, which supports producers’ ability to adapt to a changing animal production landscape, is funded with a $1 million grant from Open Philanthropy matched by a $1 million investment from FFAR.



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