EVALUATION OF LAYING HEN PERFORMANCE, WELFARE, ECONOMIC RETURN, AND EGG QUALITY AND SAFETY FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND MAXIMIZATION OF RETURNS

General.Evaluate methods that optimize the productive potential, economic return, and egg quality of commercial strains of egg-type chickens by utilizing components of nutrition, physical environment, husbandry practices, induced molt programs, shell egg processing constituents and methods to control disease outbreaks.Specific.1) Determine the association amid the changing performance characteristics and nutrient partitioning on subsequent layer performance and egg mass produced.2) Determine the effects layer strain and its interaction between house type, density, husbandry practices, outdoor access and layer nutrition on production, welfare, and economics.3) Determine the effects and interactions of induced molt programs on production, behavior, and economics in cage free systems.4) Examine alternative feeding programs and manure disposal systems to minimize environmental the foot print.5) Evaluate production in different production environments.6) Evaluate VSD Methods for mass euthanasia.