Poultry Science Association Research Articles

One hundred years of the World's Poultry Science Association

The World's Poultry Science Association was originally formed as the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators in 1912. Its objectives were to foster the development of the poultry industry, and the exchange of information related to poultry science and technology. From small beginnings it has evolved into a strong international organisation with 7700 members in more than 80 countries. The association publishes the World's Poultry Science Journal and promotes and oversees World's Poultry Congresses. It is active in all areas of the poultry industry, from family poultry in developing countries to institutions of research and learning, and production and processing in the industrial world.

Application of the law of diminishing returns to partitioning metabolizable energy and crude protein intake between maintenance and growth in egg-type pullets

Experiments designed to investigate the effect of dietary nutrient concentrations on the growth and development of pullets are relatively long term and expensive to conduct. As the cost of research increases, mathematical models become valuable tools to answer research and development questions. Modeling growth curves allows nutritionists and poultry researchers to predict dynamic or daily nutrient needs more adequately than using fixed requirements. The potential and validity of a specially reparameterized monomolecular model to partition nutrient intakes between requirements for maintenance and growth was previously demonstrated in relation to ruminants, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and broiler breeder pullets. In the current study, the model was evaluated for its ability to estimate ME and CP requirements for maintenance and growth in egg-type pullets. On the basis of the results of this study, along with those previously reported for chickens, turkeys, and broiler breeder pullets, this model is advantageous because it can predict the magnitude and direction of responses of growing poultry to dietary ME and CP intakes without requiring initial assumptions. The model also has the advantage of biological interpretability of the parameter estimates. One of the main consequences of this interpretability is that the results from several experiments can be pooled to obtain the best estimates of the response coefficients. ©2012 Poultry Science Association, Inc.

Introduction—The Socially Sustainable Egg Production project

The social and political pressure to change egg production from conventional cage systems to alternative systems has been largely driven by the desire to provide more behavioral freedom for egg-laying hens. However, a change of this magnitude can affect other components of the production system and may result in unintended outcomes. To understand this issue, a Socially Sustainable Egg Production project was formed to 1) conduct a holistic and integrated systematic review of the current state of knowledge about various aspects of sustainable egg production, and 2) develop a coordinated grant proposal for future extramural funding based on the research priorities identified from the review. Expert study groups were formed to write evidence-based papers in 5 critical sustainability areas: hen health and welfare, economics, food safety and quality, public attitudes, and environmental impacts. These papers were presented as the PSA Emerging Issues Symposium on Social Sustainability of Egg Production at the 2010 Poultry Science Association meeting.

RUMINANT NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM: Acidosis: New insights into the persistent problem1

The Ruminant Nutrition Symposium titled "Acidosis: New insights into the persistent problem" was held at the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, Poultry Science Association, Asociación Mexicana de Producción Animal, Western Section-ASAS, and the Canadian Society of Animal Science in Denver, Colorado, July 11 to 15, 2010. The objective of the symposium was to provide the ruminant nutrition community with new insights and perspectives from recent research findings on acidosis. Under modern production systems, ruminants are fed high-grain diets to maximize their energy intake and productivity. However, feeding highly fermentable diets often causes excess fermentation and results in accumulation of fermentation acids in the rumen, leading to a decrease in feed intake, poor feed efficiency, liver abscesses, and lameness in feedlot cattle or lactating dairy cows. Although our understanding of nutritional factors (i.e., effects of type and processing method of grains and importance of physically effective fiber) affecting rumen pH have increased substantially over the past few decades, rumen acidosis has continued to be a common problem in the ruminant livestock industry. The symposium program was organized to review recent research findings in acidosis with more emphasis on physiological aspects, and provide novel insights into the persistent problem.

National Extension Workshop: Washington update

The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service was changed to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the National Research Initiative became the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative on October 1, 2009. All related grants, deadlines, and procedures may be found on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Internet site ( http://www.nifa.usda.gov ) after October 1, 2009. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service continues to have annual internal and periodic (every 5 yr) external reviews of their portfolio, which summarizes accomplishments found in the Current Research Information System. As in previous years, cooperation, networking, teamwork, and participation in multistate research committees are essential to meaningful contributions to the food animal system. Since 1988, the National Poultry Extension Workshop has been possible because of the dedicated efforts of volunteers. The Future Trends in Animal Agriculture’s 2008 symposium was “Complementary Relationships in Animal Agriculture.” The 2009 Quadrennial Poultry Extension Workshop was held in Raleigh, North Carolina. The National Poultry Waste Management Symposium coordinator for 2010 is Edgar Oviedo, North Carolina State University. Several universities now provide animal welfare education programs, including participation in assessment competitions and distance education. Coordination of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest continues to be through Michigan State University. The recipient of the 2009 Poultry Extension Special Recognition Award is Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky, for her exceptional contributions to extension programs at the state, regional, and national levels. Michael Ford, University of Kentucky, is the 2009 recipient of the Poultry Science Association Support Personnel Award, sponsored by Tyson Foods Inc.

Food, energy, and the environment

During the 2009 annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association, a symposium entitled "Global Views of New Agriculture: Food, Energy, and the Environment" was held that focused on several major issues affecting agriculture. Issues included future funding for basic agricultural research, sustainability, bioenergy, and their effects on global food markets. In many ways, a subtitle for the symposium could have been "Agriculture-Why What We Do Matters." It matters because of the fiscal and physical realities the planet will face in the coming decades relative to human population growth and the increasing demands to feed a hungry world. The challenges are daunting and the technologies to address them will require us to reevaluate the structure and policies we have established relative to agricultural research. In this case, change is all the more difficult because the traditional model of agricultural research has been so successful. One only needs to note the remarkable increases in productivity of the past half century of commodities such as corn and soybeans or feed efficiencies among broilers, laying hens, and turkeys to recognize the significant advancements that have been achieved. However, these historic gains have frequently required increased inputs, most notably fossil fuels. Food production in the future will likely be confronted with concerns involving energy, water, climate change, and the threat of agroterrorism. For example, we will need to develop crops that are more drought-resistant and more tolerant to a wider range of salinities as access to fresh water becomes more problematic. Animal agriculture will also need to adapt to diets composed of atypical feedstuffs. Whether future generations will inherit a world described by Paul Roberts in his books The End of Oil and The End of Food will be in part determined by the research model we adopt in the near term.

Poultry Science--Growing as an International Journal

Poultry Science is the journal of the Poultry Science Association, an organization that celebrated its first 100 years in 2008. The journal has one of the highest impact factors for any animal agricultural journal and has by far the highest impact factor of any poultryrelated journal (Scanes, 2007a). The number of papers published in Poultry Science is increasing, from 276 papers published in 2003 (Table 1) to 446 in 2007 (Table 2). Poultry Science is committed to being the preeminent international journal for research publications related to poultry. As recently as 2003, papers from researchers in the United States made up almost two-thirds of those published (Table 1). If we rank countries by the number of papers published (Table 1), the next countries after the United States were France and the Netherlands, each contributing 4% of the total papers published. In total, 18.5% of papers published came from countries in the European Union and 5.1% from Asian countries. As recently as 2003, all of the section editors were from the United States. There has been a conscious effort to internationalize the journal. Today, the journal has section editors from Asia, Australia, and Europe as well as the United States. We have made significant progress in internationalizing Poultry Science. In 2003, papers from 27 countries were published in the journal (Table 1). In 2007, the number of countries represented by researchers publishing in Poultry Science increased to 36 (Table 2). Moreover, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of papers published from research groups in different countries. For instance, although the number of papers published from researchers in the United States grew 49% between 2003 and 2007, papers from researchers in China increased 6.2-fold, those from Canada increased 8-fold, and those from the United Kingdom increased 8.0-fold (Tables 1 and 2). It is particularly interesting that although the number of papers from countries in the European Union grew by 16%, the proportion of papers fell, from 18.5% of all papers published in 2003 to 13.2% in 2007. In contrast, the number of papers from researchers in Asian countries grew 5.1-fold, and the proportion of papers increased from 5.1% of papers published in Poultry Science in 2003 to 15.9% in 2007. Accompanying the increase in papers from Asian countries have been large increases in poultry production in those countries

Washington update

Jesse and Doris Lyons are the recipients of the 2008 Poultry Extension Special Recognition Award for their exceptional contributions to state, regional, and national extension programs. The National Poultry Extension Workshop continues to be possible only through the dedicated efforts of volunteers. In a welcome break from tradition, the workshop was moved from Sunday to Monday morning, which reduced personal conflicts related to Saturday travel and early Sunday meetings. The Future Trends in Animal Agriculture 2008 Symposium was “Complementary Relationships in Animal Agriculture.” The 2009 Quadrennial Poultry Extension Workshop will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina. The National Poultry Waste Management Symposium coordinator for 2008 is Casey Ritz, University of Georgia. The USDA grants, deadlines, and procedures can be found on the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Internet site (http://www.csrees.usda.gov). The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Plant and Animal Systems has yearly internal reviews of its various portfolios that summarize the accomplishments and impacts of system personnel. Program accountability requires documentation by everyone. Now and in the future, cooperation, networking, teamwork, and participation in multistate research committees are essential to our ability to make meaningful contributions to the poultry system. Several universities now provide animal welfare education programs, including participation in assessment competitions and distance education. The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest will be coordinated by Michigan State University for the next few years. Tyson Foods sponsors the Poultry Science Association Support Personnel Award, and Felicity Dennis of the University of Alberta was the 2008 recipient.

The poultry scientist: Past, present, and future

This paper is adapted from the World's Poultry Science Association Lecture presented July 22, 2008, at the Poultry Science Association meeting. It contains the author's views of the past, present, and future roles of poultry scientists.

The future of poultry science research: Things I think I think1,2

Much poultry research progress has occurred over the first century of the Poultry Science Association. During that time, specific problems have been solved and much basic biological knowledge has been gained. Scientific discovery has exceeded its integration into foundation concepts. Researchers need to be involved in the public's development of critical thinking skills to enable discernment of fact versus fiction. Academic, government, and private institutions need to hire the best people. Issues of insufficient research funding will be remedied by a combination of strategies rather than by a single cure. Scientific advocacy for poultry-related issues is critical to success. Two other keys to the future are funding for higher-risk projects, whose outcome is truly unknown, and specific allocations for new investigators. Diligent, ongoing efforts by poultry scientists will enable progress beyond the challenges.

A landmark contribution to poultry science—A possible mode of action of sulfamethazine on the reproductive system of Leghorn cockerels

The paper "The effect of sulfamethazine feeding on the thyroids, combs and testes of Single Comb White Leghorn cockerels" was published early in the career of Ari van Tienhoven when he was an assistant professor. The current manuscript pays tribute to that study submitted to the journal, Poultry Science, over 5 decades ago. In addition, the review examines the academic lineage of van Tienhoven to show that his line of descent produced several scientists who have contributed significantly to the success of the Poultry Science Association in the discipline of neuroendocrinology and avian physiology during most of its first 100 yr. In a quiet, unassuming manner, van Tienhoven has had a major effect on basic research addressing reproductive endocrinology in vertebrates, particularly in the domestic fowl, Gallus gallus. Biographical information, his academic pedigree, students produced, research areas pursued, and the landmark contribution selected for review are highlighted. A link to an electronic archive of a recorded interview with van Tienhoven in preparation for the symposium can be accessed using the link given in the first footnote.

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has made considerable progress in the past year in all of its focus areas that affect visibility and financial well-being as we strive to achieve our mission. “Building Our Brand” is at the core of every activity, including our product (publications), our member involvement (stakeholder contacts and reports), and our distribution and sales (expanding our reach and affecting the key audiences listed in our mission statement). “Ahead of the Need” information is what the Poultry Science Association can provide us. We are increasing the number of commentary papers that we will produce annually, and we have improved our reach to state and federal congressional contacts and media personnel. We appreciate the support and suggestions of the Poultry Science Association and look forward to continued success in communicating science to society.

Washington Update

Theresia LaVergne was the recipient of the 2006 Poultry Extension Special Recognition Award for her exceptional contributions to regional and national extension programs. A new responsibility for national program leaders is being named as co-liaison to one or more land-grant universities. Continuing responsibilities include: departmental review team leader; liaison to several multistate research committees; review of grant proposals, plans of work and accomplishment reports, and Hatch projects; and evaluate Current Research Information System reports. The National Extension Workshop has been possible only through the dedicated efforts of volunteers. The Future Trends in Animal Agriculture 2006 symposium was “Addressing International Trade Complexities of Animal Welfare.” The 2005 Triennial Poultry Extension Workshop was considered very successful, with the next workshop to be held in 2009. The National Poultry Waste Management Symposium coordinator for 2006 was Susan Watkins, University of Arkansas, with Casey Ritz (GA) the coordinator for 2008. The USDA grants, deadlines, and procedure can be found on the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Web site (http://www.csrees.usda.gov). The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Plant and Animal Systems Unit now has yearly internal reviews of their various portfolios. Program accountability requires documentation by everyone. Michigan State University and Purdue University are providing leadership in several animal welfare educational areas, including assessment and distance education programs. Coordination of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest will be at Michigan State University for the next few years. Tyson Foods has taken over sponsorship of the Poultry Science Association Support Personnel Award, beginning in 2006 with Karen Schwean-Lardner of the University of Saskatchewan as the 2006 recipient. Cooperation, networking, teamwork, and participation in multistate research committees are essential to the ability of extension personnel to continue to make meaningful contributions to the poultry system.

Introduction

Volunteer committee members from the Poultry Science Association consulted with colleagues in their respective industries and allied industries to supplement their opinions of the best cutting-edge presentations for this workshop. After considerable discussion, the list of topics and potential speakers was reduced to a manageable level to address the following concerns: the future of extension, niche markets, food safety, animal welfare, and environment and training the trainer—network of first responders to agro-terrorism. We depend on the industry and especially extension specialists and agents to address these concerns by being a part of partnerships needed to find solutions.

Are happy chickens safer chickens? Poultry welfare and disease susceptibility1

1. Contaminated chicken meat remains an internationally important vehicle for human infection with Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. In addition, the last 20 years has seen an international pandemic of human salmonellosis caused by the contamination of eggs with Salmonella Enteritidis. 2. It has been a long held scientific view that Campylobacter spp. and most, if not all of the common zoonotic salmonella, are essentially commensal in chickens. They usually form part of the gut flora and contaminate chicken carcases, for example, by faecal spillage at slaughter. Even when certain salmonella serovars like S. Enteritidis are invasive in laying hens overt evidence of clinical disease is rare and the birds appear to behave normally. 3. Are these bacteria just ‘passing through’ the avian host and only transient members of the bacterial flora or is there a more dynamic perspective to this infection/colonisation process? Chickens mount antibody responses to both pathogens, which indicate something other than commensalism. Such immune responses, however, do not always result in the clearance of the pathogen. 4. Not all animals in a group will carry salmonella or campylobacter, even under experimental conditions, and will vary, especially those that are outbred, in their responses to pathogen challenge. Identifying the reasons behind this could have important implications for disease control. 5. Both salmonella and campylobacter are more likely to be found in animals, which are compromised and this may explain at least part of the variations seen. Animals are more susceptible to infection when they are in a poor environment, fed a poor diet and/or under physical or psychological stress. 6. Work in this area has naturally focused on pathogens of medical significance and has shown that neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline can markedly alter pathogen behaviour. Other host responses like Interferon γ can also affect host tissues in a way, which facilitates invasion by pathogens and may also interact directly with certain bacteria. 7. From a food safety perspective, there is evidence that egg contents contamination in ovo may be linked to transient stress in the hen. Current work at the University of Bristol on the epidemiology of campylobacter in broiler production is also showing a potential link between gut health and campylobacter colonisation and challenging the concept that these bacteria are common commensals. 8. The poor economic returns received by the egg and poultry industries mean that intensive production methods are common. Is it possible to rear chickens under these conditions in such a way as to exclude zoonotic pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter? Data from the UK strongly suggest that this is possible with the former pathogen. Can similar advances be achieved with campylobacter? 1 This lecture is the 24th given in memory of the late Dr R.F. Gordon and was delivered at the Spring Meeting of the UK Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association in York on 28th March 2006.

The American Dairy Science Association: The Fourth Twenty-Five Years, 1981–2005

Great leaders have stepped forward to successfully lead the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) through its fourth 25-yr period of its 100-yr history. Rather than meeting on college campuses, the annual meetings of the ADSA are now held at convention centers that are easily accessible, and are usually held jointly with the American Society of Animal Science. Besides the scientific and social exchanges, regular members and students are recognized for their professional excellence with awards at these meetings. The Student Affiliate Division continues to hold an active meeting along with the parent society. The last 25 yr experienced the termination of the Purina Mills Fellowship Program after 52 yr of support for graduate students. The establishment of an ADSA Foundation has increased resources for enhancement of the ADSA. Newly established DISCOVER Conferences are recipients of Foundation support. The last 25-yr period experienced the development of a formal business arrangement with the American Society of Animal Science and Poultry Science Association that resulted in the establishment of the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS), which now houses the 3 societies in its building in Savoy, IL. The Journal of Dairy Science has become the leading journal for publication of dairy science research in the world. The Journal as well as the membership of the ADSA has become increasingly internationalized. Truly, the ADSA has much to celebrate because of its successes in mission during the fourth 25 yr of its history. Its membership can be confident as the ADSA begins its second century of service to the dairy industry.

The 2006–2010 Strategic Plan for the Poultry Science Association

The Poultry Science Association (PSA) leadership has created its first comprehensive 5-year strategic plan (2006 to 2010) as a guide to the organization's growth and development. As societal concerns about animal agriculture increase and as changes in the poultry industry and in universities reduce the numbers of poultry scientists and thus membership in PSA, it became apparent that, to maintain relevance, the PSA needed to undertake a more rigorous and comprehensive review of its assets, areas of weakness, and reasons for being. The strategic planning process provided the lens for organizational analysis and planning. Our new mission for the PSA is to be a global scientific society dedicated to discovery and dissemination of knowledge, generated by poultry research that enhances human and animal health and well-being and provides for the ethical, sustainable production of food. The Association's vision is to be a preeminent global organization of poultry scientists and industry leaders, firmly grounded in scientific endeavors related to the biology and production of poultry. Increased membership diversity will be pursued by recruiting people of varied geographic, gender, cultural, and scientific backgrounds—including health and medicine—leading to a diverse leadership. The PSA will serve as the clearinghouse for poultry science information and provide through its Foundation significant financial support to students and young scientists engaged in poultry science research, teaching, and outreach education. The PSA, in partnership with the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS), will be a highly credible, well-respected, powerful force that is able to influence policy makers at governmental levels for the benefit of animal agriculture by delivering sound scientific information. The strategic plan highlights strategic directions to be implemented as well as assessment of progress. It will take the vision, energy, and dedication of PSA leaders and members to ensure that the strategic plan is well implemented, monitored, and altered appropriately, keeping it a living plan of action.

Planning our future: the Poultry Science Association strategic plan

1Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; 2Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409; 3Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849; 4Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701; 5Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Science Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701; 6Novus International, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri 63141; 7Poultry Science Association, Savoy, Illinois 61874; 8Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Georgetown, Delaware 19947; 9Institute for Conservation Leadership, Bozeman, Montana 59715; 10Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108; 11Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546; 12Embrex, Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; 13Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5; 14Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912; 15Animal Health/Nutrition, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Quincy, Illinois 62301; 16Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996; 17Akey, Inc., Marysville, Ohio 43040; 18Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30605; 19Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh , North Carolina 27695; 20Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583; and 21Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716

Dustbathing by broiler chickens: a comparison of preference for four different substrates

Leg abnormalities leading to lameness in broiler chickens are a serious welfare problem. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that providing broiler chickens with the opportunity to exercise by performing more natural behaviors (such as perching, walking up and down inclines and dustbathing) can improve their ability to walk normally [J.A. Mench, J.P. Garner, C. Falcone, Behavioral activity and its effects on leg problems in broiler chickens, in: H. Oester, C. Wyss (Eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, World’s Poultry Science Association, Zollikofen, Switzerland, 2001, pp. 152–156]. With the long-term goal of stimulating dustbathing to improve leg condition, the aim of this study was to determine the dustbathing substrate preferred by broiler chickens. We conducted a dustbathing choice test experiment using four different bedding types (pine wood shavings, rice hulls, construction grade sand, and a recycled paper animal bedding product). Four different broiler chickens were tested each week for 6 weeks starting when the chicks were 1 week old. They were selected from two groups of broiler chickens housed in large home pens bedded with wood shavings. Selected birds were tested in smaller pens where they were deprived of all loose bedding material except during testing, which was carried out for 1 h each day for three consecutive days per week. During an observation, each corner of the test pen was filled with a different bedding type, and the behavior of the focal chick recorded. Vertical wing shakes (VWS) were used as the primary measure of dustbathing activity. Broilers performed significantly more VWS per hour in sand ( F 3,36 =13.52, P <0.0005) and spent a greater proportion of their total time in sand ( F 5,60 =5.15, P =0.001) than in the rice hulls, paper, or wood shavings. They also visited the sand significantly more often than the paper or the wood shavings ( F 5,60 =96.47, P <0.0005). There were no dustbaths in the rice hulls. The latency to enter sand was significantly shorter than the latency to enter any of the other three substrates ( F 3,15 =5.24, P =0.0113). Ground pecking generally precedes a dustbathing bout, and the rate of pecking and the proportion of the total time budget spent pecking were also highest for sand ( F 3,51 =24.49, P <0.0001 and F 3,51 =15.28, P <0.0001, respectively). The preference for sand was apparent in the first week, and was stable with age. The results of this study suggest that sand is attractive to broiler chickens and is a potent stimulus for dustbathing. Further work is needed to determine if stimulating broiler chickens to dustbathe by providing sand can improve their leg condition, and thus their welfare.

Dustbathing by broiler chickens: a comparison of preference for four different substrates

Leg abnormalities leading to lameness in broiler chickens are a serious welfare problem. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that providing broiler chickens with the opportunity to exercise by performing more natural behaviors (such as perching, walking up and down inclines and dustbathing) can improve their ability to walk normally [J.A. Mench, J.P. Garner, C. Falcone, Behavioral activity and its effects on leg problems in broiler chickens, in: H. Oester, C. Wyss (Eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, World’s Poultry Science Association, Zollikofen, Switzerland, 2001, pp. 152–156]. With the long-term goal of stimulating dustbathing to improve leg condition, the aim of this study was to determine the dustbathing substrate preferred by broiler chickens. We conducted a dustbathing choice test experiment using four different bedding types (pine wood shavings, rice hulls, construction grade sand, and a recycled paper animal bedding product). Four different broiler chickens were tested each week for 6 weeks starting when the chicks were 1 week old. They were selected from two groups of broiler chickens housed in large home pens bedded with wood shavings. Selected birds were tested in smaller pens where they were deprived of all loose bedding material except during testing, which was carried out for 1 h each day for three consecutive days per week. During an observation, each corner of the test pen was filled with a different bedding type, and the behavior of the focal chick recorded. Vertical wing shakes (VWS) were used as the primary measure of dustbathing activity. Broilers performed significantly more VWS per hour in sand ( F 3,36=13.52, P<0.0005) and spent a greater proportion of their total time in sand ( F 5,60=5.15, P=0.001) than in the rice hulls, paper, or wood shavings. They also visited the sand significantly more often than the paper or the wood shavings ( F 5,60=96.47, P<0.0005). There were no dustbaths in the rice hulls. The latency to enter sand was significantly shorter than the latency to enter any of the other three substrates ( F 3,15=5.24, P=0.0113). Ground pecking generally precedes a dustbathing bout, and the rate of pecking and the proportion of the total time budget spent pecking were also highest for sand ( F 3,51=24.49, P<0.0001 and F 3,51=15.28, P<0.0001, respectively). The preference for sand was apparent in the first week, and was stable with age. The results of this study suggest that sand is attractive to broiler chickens and is a potent stimulus for dustbathing. Further work is needed to determine if stimulating broiler chickens to dustbathe by providing sand can improve their leg condition, and thus their welfare.