USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia in which researchers examined the benefits of nipple drinker catch trays.

The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Claxton Poultry and is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is provided below. A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained through USPOULTRY’s website. The project summary is as follows.

Project #F085: Evaluation of a drinker system with or without trays on house litter conditions, bird performance, health and welfare

(Michael Czarick, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia)

Michael Czarick and colleagues at the University of Georgia Department of Poultry Science have recently completed a research project with the objective of evaluating the effect of catch trays on broiler water usage, litter moisture, water activity, footpad health and whether catch trays increase a bird’s exposure to Salmonella and/or Pseudomonas. Overall, the study indicated that catch trays did not affect bird water usage and may help maintain lower moisture and water activity in the litter underneath drinker lines. This data suggests that catch trays do not contribute to Salmonella growth.

The research summary can be found read here. Information on other Association research may also be obtained by visiting the USPOULTRY website.