The editors said: The last time we talked with Iowa State University’s Dr Scott Hurd, he was joyfully, if not playfully, musing about all the topics he could cover in his new blog for Poultry Health Today.

"At first, Scott politely balked at the project because, in his modest view, he was “pretty much a cattle and hog vet”. At the same time, he saw it as another opportunity to do what he did best: Help the industry tell its story about modern production practices with remarkable passion, honesty and clarity. He sprinkled his words with lots of salt, too.

"Unfortunately, Scott’s sudden illness forced him to put his new poultry blog on hold. After his passing in late March, we mourned the loss of not only a great champion for the meat industry, but also an immensely talented communicator. We can only hope that he finds time to whisper in our writers’ ears.

"Words can’t express our admiration for Scott’s efforts, so we combed through his blogs over the past year for some of his most memorable passages. He’s certainly going to be missed," they said.