Vaccine Roulette: Why NDV Strain Selection Could Be Costing You
Newcastle disease is largely under control in the United States, yet vaccination choices still shape flock health and performance. In this episode, host Andy Vance talks with Dr. Brian Jordan of Zoetis about why not all Newcastle vaccines behave the same inside the bird and how a data-first approach can reveal hidden gaps in protection.
Dr. Jordan explains the concept of vaccine take, how routine PCR monitoring shows whether birds actually received and replicated a live vaccine, and why low take rates can set up a rolling reaction that chips away at growth, feed conversion, and overall flock immunity. He compares popular live strains and clarifies where recombinant options fit, then walks through a simple plan for spot-checking hatchery applications, reading CT distributions, and deciding whether the problem is process or product. The conversation closes with questions veterinarians should ask suppliers, how to layer Newcastle programs with other respiratory vaccines, and why quarterly monitoring can keep protocols honest without adding constant lab costs.
CREDITS
Host - Andy Vance
Producer - Lyndsey Johnson
Audio Editor & Engineer - Michael Lunt
LEGAL
The information provided in this episode of Unplucked is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we discuss scientific research, public health, and industry practices, this podcast does not substitute for advice from qualified industry and scientific professionals. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of The Poultry Science Association, their respective affiliates, or employees.
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27:58
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27:58
Pathogen Pursuit: Campylobacter
Campylobacter is not your typical poultry pathogen. In this episode of Unplucked, host Andy Vance talks with Dr. Issmat Kassem of the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety about why this bug survives where others do not, and what that means for food safety from farm to processing plant. Dr. Kassem explains how Campylobacter thrives in the chicken gut, why its biology and genetics break some of the rules we apply to Salmonella and E. coli, and how the diversity of strains on farm narrows to a persistent few that make it through processing. The conversation traces how those processing tolerant strains complicate detection and control, and why a single intervention is rarely enough.
Listeners get a clear view of where the science is headed. Dr. Kassem outlines work to speed up detection and quantification, including modified media and approaches that target the microbe’s unique metabolism. He shares experimental results on antimicrobial light and new phytochemicals that can be layered with established interventions to improve reductions without sacrificing product quality. The discussion also zooms out to a practical message for the entire chain. Keep improving the system that already works, add smart hurdles where they fit, and invest in consumer education so safe handling keeps pace with scientific progress. Above all, remember that pathogens evolve, so our playbook must evolve too.
CREDITS
Host - Andy Vance
Producer - Lyndsey Johnson
Audio Editor & Engineer - Michael Lunt
LEGAL
The information provided in this episode of Unplucked is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we discuss scientific research, public health, and industry practices, this podcast does not substitute for advice from qualified industry and scientific professionals. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of The Poultry Science Association, their respective affiliates, or employees.
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23:18
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23:18
Inside Perdue Farms: Reinventing Poultry Feed
In this episode of Unplucked, host Andy Vance sits down with Dr. Randy Mitchell, VP of Nutrition at Perdue Farms and a newly named Fellow of the Poultry Science Association, to examine how one of America’s most recognized poultry brands turns values into daily practice. Dr. Mitchell traces his path from a North Georgia farm to corporate leadership and explains how Perdue’s family-owned culture shapes decisions that reach from feed mills to grower barns. The conversation looks closely at two defining shifts for the company, the move to all-vegetarian feed and the transition to no antibiotics ever, and unpacks the research, cross-functional coordination, and grower engagement needed to make those commitments work at scale.
Listeners get a practical view of formulation under new constraints, including how broader access to plant proteins, synthetic amino acids, and feed-grade vegetable oils helped close performance and cost gaps. Dr. Mitchell discusses why the hardest work was not removing in-feed antibiotics but redesigning hatchery and farm programs to protect chick quality, litter condition, and overall flock health. He shares how Perdue evaluates tradeoffs, from bird welfare to customer expectations, and how the company weighs the real "cost of being Perdue" while staying competitive on throughput and efficiency.
CREDITS
Host - Andy Vance
Producer - Lyndsey Johnson
Audio Editor & Engineer - Michael Lunt
LEGAL
The information provided in this episode of Unplucked is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we discuss scientific research, public health, and industry practices, this podcast does not substitute for advice from qualified industry and scientific professionals. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of The Poultry Science Association, their respective affiliates, or employees.
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22:19
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22:19
How are AI & Robotics different?
Artificial intelligence and robotics are not the same tool, and understanding the difference changes how you plan, budget, and deploy technology in poultry science. In this episode, host Andy Vance talks with Georgia Tech’s Walker Bynes about where fixed automation ends and flexible robotics begins, and how AI fits in as the decision layer rather than the machine itself. Walker explains why most plants still rely on purpose-built machines for single tasks, and how the next wave aims for adaptable systems that can be reprogrammed to handle new jobs as conditions change in the house, the lab, or the plant.
The conversation breaks down embodied AI in plain language. Listeners hear how vision and language models help robots perceive space, generate action plans, and learn from complex sensor data, and why the quality of inputs, clear guardrails, and human oversight are essential for safety and reliability. In the lab, AI and automation act as a force multiplier by removing repetitive work and surfacing better experiment plans, while researchers stay in control of the science. Looking ahead, Walker sketches a practical roadmap that includes domain-specific models trained on poultry data, flexible robots that can be upskilled with software, and interdisciplinary teams that pair engineers with poultry experts to turn promising ideas into daily routines that save time and improve outcomes.
CREDITS
Host - Andy Vance
Producer - Lyndsey Johnson
Audio Editor & Engineer - Michael Lunt
LEGAL
The information provided in this episode of Unplucked is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we discuss scientific research, public health, and industry practices, this podcast does not substitute for advice from qualified industry and scientific professionals. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of The Poultry Science Association, their respective affiliates, or employees.
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32:32
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32:32
Broiler House Management
Moisture control sits at the center of good broiler management. In this episode of Unplucked, host Andy Vance talks with Dr. Brian Fairchild of the University of Georgia about the house as a living system and how small environmental choices cascade into flock health, welfare, and costs. Dr. Fairchild explains why design and day-to-day execution both matter, how ventilation strategies should change with the season, and why chasing ammonia with more fan time often backfires by driving energy use without fixing the root problem. He walks through practical ways to keep a steady moisture balance, from programming controllers against real outdoor and indoor conditions to avoiding early morning evaporative cooling that only saturates the air.
The conversation expands into the decisions producers face on lighting, energy, and water. Dr. Fairchild outlines how LED technology lowered power bills and why aging bulbs with uneven spectra can undermine dimming programs if replacements are not chosen carefully. He shares a simple framework for water management that starts with peak flow capacity, then looks at quality through the lens of equipment reliability, because leaky or worn drinkers can create wet floors long before bird performance suffers. Listeners also get an inside look at innovations with staying power, including variable-speed fans that move the right amount of air at lower cost and newer plastic evaporative pads that tolerate poor water quality and can be cleaned effectively. Throughout, Dr. Fairchild ties research to the barn, showing how field trials, extension newsletters, and producer feedback turn ideas into routines that protect margins and keep birds comfortable.
CREDITS
Host - Andy Vance
Producer - Lyndsey Johnson
Audio Editor & Engineer - Michael Lunt
LEGAL
The information provided in this episode of Unplucked is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we discuss scientific research, public health, and industry practices, this podcast does not substitute for advice from qualified industry and scientific professionals. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of The Poultry Science Association, their respective affiliates, or employees.
Unplucked - Stripped-down, honest discussions about poultry science.
No fluff. No filter. Just real, transparent, and topical conversations about the science, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the poultry industry. Unplucked goes beyond the headlines and industry jargon to deliver candid discussions with the experts, researchers, and professionals who know poultry best.
Whether it’s debunking myths, tackling tough questions, or exploring the latest innovations, Unplucked brings you the raw, unvarnished truth about poultry science—because the best insights come when we strip things down to what really matters.
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