Mississippi State University Layer Seminar

Course overview

The Mississippi State University Department of Poultry Science will host a two-day Poultry Layer Workshop focused on current production challenges, health management, nutrition, regulatory updates, and management practices in modern commercial egg operations. This in-person program will bring together egg producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, researchers, Extension personnel, and allied industry professionals for practical learning and discussion centered on contemporary layer production systems. The workshop will begin with onsite registration and welcome remarks from leadership representing Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, along with an update from the Department of Poultry Science. Participants will receive an overview of the program, including orientation information and housekeeping details to help ensure a productive and engaging workshop. Day one will focus primarily on nutrition, disease management, and feed-related considerations for commercial layers. The program will begin with a session on the nutrition of specialty eggs, highlighting dietary strategies used to support specialty egg production and product differentiation. A session on major layer diseases will follow, emphasizing recognition and management of important health challenges including spotty liver disease and infectious coryza. After a scheduled networking break, programming will continue with a discussion on layer nutrition and feed mill quality control, addressing best practices for maintaining feed quality and consistency. The afternoon will conclude with a session examining emerging opportunities for feed additives in layer production. The first day will adjourn in the late afternoon, followed by an optional group dinner that will provide additional opportunities for networking and discussion among attendees. The second day will begin with a coffee and pastry networking event hosted by industry partners, followed by welcome-back remarks. Morning sessions will address regulatory developments, production management, and strategies to optimize flock performance. Programming will include an update on Salmonella Enteritidis and the Egg Products Inspection Act Layer Final Rule compliance considerations. Additional sessions will focus on management practices in cage-free production systems, as well as approaches to optimizing layer performance through improved understanding of body composition. The program will also include a session discussing practical lessons learned in coccidiosis vaccination programs for layers. The workshop will conclude with a box lunch and final adjournment. Throughout the two-day program, attendees will have opportunities to engage in discussion, ask questions, and network with peers and industry representatives. This Poultry Layer Workshop reflects the continued commitment of Mississippi State University to support the poultry industry through research-based education, regulatory awareness, and practical solutions for modern layer production. The program is intended for egg producers, farm managers, veterinarians, nutritionists, Extension professionals, students, and allied industry personnel seeking current information and applicable insights for commercial layer operations.