As our students return to campus and a new academic year gets underway, there’s exciting energy throughout the department. We are pleased to welcome new undergraduate and graduate students who are beginning their journeys in poultry science, and we are equally excited to welcome outstanding new faculty members whose expertise will strengthen our teaching, research and outreach programs. Their additions reflect the continued growth and momentum of our department.
It was an exceptionally busy and productive summer for the Department of Poultry Science. The days were filled with student internships, youth programs, research achievements, professional meetings, extension activities, and opportunities to engage with the poultry industry across Texas and beyond. Our annual poultry judging camps brought together youth from 10 different states, which is the broadest reach we’ve seen to date! It’s exciting to see poultry interest in youth who will be the next generation of students in the department.
This newsletter highlights just a few of the many accomplishments, milestones and activities that have shaped the past several months. From student success stories and faculty achievements to new research initiatives and upcoming events, these updates demonstrate the dedication and impact of our faculty, staff, students and partners. Thank you for your continued support of Texas A&M Poultry Science. I hope you enjoy reading about the people and programs that make our department such a special community.
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Thanks, and Gig 'em!
Audrey McElroy, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Head
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Poultry Science students explore career possibilities with summer internships
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This summer, 37 poultry science students put their education into practice through internships with 17 companies and organizations spanning eight states and two countries.
For these students, internships are more than a summer job. They are an opportunity to apply what they have learned, take on meaningful responsibilities, and move forward with a clearer understanding of the careers, industries and challenges they may one day pursue.
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Texas A&M Poultry Science takes research to the global stage at Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting
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Texas A&M Poultry Science faculty, staff, and graduate students joined more than 1,200 poultry scientists and industry professionals at the 2026 Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, sharing research, earning professional recognition, and building connections that support future discoveries and collaboration.
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Rosemary Walzem retires after 27 years bridging poultry science and heart health
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After 27 years with the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science, Dr. Rosemary Walzem has retired, leaving a legacy of research that connected poultry science, nutrition and cardiovascular health. Her interdisciplinary work, commitment to students and contributions to the scientific community have made a lasting impact at Texas A&M and beyond.
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Summer poultry programs bring youth from across the nation to Texas A&M
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While the pace of campus changes during the summer, learning continues across Aggieland. Each year, the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service welcome hundreds of youths to camps, contests and educational programs that bring poultry science to life.
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Market Poultry Workshop prepares youth exhibitors for success in the show ring
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This year’s Market Poultry Workshop welcomed 212 participants with experience levels ranging from first-time exhibitors to families with as many as 10 years in the project. The event was hosted on Aug. 1 by the Texas A&M AgriLife Poultry Science Extension Unit.
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Poultry Science welcomes Diego Martinez as an assistant professor of poultry nutrition
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Dr. Diego Martinez's work combines academic research with more than two decades of experience spanning commercial poultry production, feed manufacturing, technical service, product development and industry consulting on a global scale.
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| Jinquan Wang joins Department of Poultry Science
as a poultry processing and food safety specialist
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In his new role, Dr. Jinquan will develop research and AgriLife Extension programs focused on poultry processing, food safety, regulatory compliance, and the control of foodborne pathogens while serving poultry and meat processors throughout Texas.
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Members of the U.S. Army’s 43rd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support visited Texas A&M for hands-on training in poultry anatomy, disease recognition and flock health. The program connected laboratory instruction with the diagnostic, management and prevention practices used across commercial poultry production.
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Ahead of the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, Dr. Morgan Farnell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, joined experts from across Texas A&M to lead a continuing education session focused on backyard poultry. The training equipped veterinarians and AgriLife Extension agents with practical skills to better serve the state’s growing number of backyard flocks.
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Protect your flock’s water supply during nearby disease outbreaks. This free resource explains poultry water sanitation, sanitizer residual targets, sampling methods and routine monitoring for stronger on-farm biosecurity.
AgriLife Learn is an open-access platform that shares guides, factsheets and other research-backed resources.
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Texas A&M Poultry Science is joining researchers from Columbia University and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in a USDA-funded effort to explore a new defense against avian influenza. The team is testing whether far-UVC light can reduce airborne virus, with Dr. Morgan Farnell and Dr. Ziteng "Tim" Xu helping determine how the technology performs under real poultry production conditions.
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Dr. Greg Archer examined whether changes to the way broilers and ducks move through their environment could support growth and leg health. The study found benefits from increased walking, but adding ramps and steps did not produce additional advantages, offering insight for future poultry housing and enrichment strategies.
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Dr. Giridhar Athrey and other Texas A&M researchers found that flies collected around livestock-producing areas can provide valuable information about antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in the environment. By comparing samples from six Texas counties, researchers found differences in resistance from one area to another, suggesting flies could serve as an environmental monitoring tool to help identify areas where antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be more common.
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Efficient feces and litter management remains a critical challenge in modern poultry production systems. This study by Texas A&M poultry science researchers explores how robotics and computer vision could play a larger role in future poultry houses. By combining automated waste removal with accurate 3D measurements, researchers demonstrated technology that could support both routine cleaning and more precise flock monitoring.
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Research by Dr. Greg Archer earned the top two positions on Poultry’s list of highly cited papers for 2024–2025. The studies explored how drinking-water supplements affect Pekin duck growth and welfare and how a yeast fermentation product influences broiler performance and stress susceptibility.
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With nearly 40% of the nation’s poultry science graduates and a 100% job placement rate, Texas A&M Poultry Science plays a critical role in preparing the industry’s workforce. This Spirit magazine feature explores that impact through former students leading in poultry medicine, food safety and egg production.
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Dr. Giridhar Athrey, associate professor and associate department head for undergraduate education, explains how multiomics, artificial intelligence and mathematical modeling are improving the understanding of broiler breeder fertility. Practical applications, semen microbiome research and future selection strategies highlight new opportunities for poultry production.
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Following his recent signing with the Dallas Cowboys, former Texas A&M football standout Von Miller is receiving attention for another passion: poultry. A former poultry science student at Texas A&M, Miller credits Dr. Morgan Farnell with sparking his interest in the field. Today, he continues to apply what he learned in Aggieland through his work raising chickens and co-owning Greener Pastures Chicken.
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This year's event will be hosted in Lufkin. Designed for those working in broiler and breeder production and management, the event provides an opportunity to connect with industry partners and learn about topics affecting commercial poultry production.
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For more than 25 years, this beloved tradition has welcomed students, faculty, staff, former students, families, friends, and industry supporters for an evening of food, fun, and unmistakable Aggie spirit!
Help support Steak Fry 2026
We welcome both individual and corporate support to help make Steak Fry possible. Every contribution plays a role in continuing this long-standing tradition and creating a memorable evening for the Texas A&M Poultry Science community.
To receive full recognition on event promotions, we encourage commitments to be submitted by Sept. 25.
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The Texas A&M Poultry Science Reverse Career Fair is an exclusive networking event, open only to undergraduate and graduate poultry science students. Registration is now open.
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Save the Date! The forum is an educational seminar tailored for professionals involved in the commercial production and management of breeders and hatcheries.
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There’s always something happening in the Department of Poultry Science!
Follow our programs on social media for the latest news, events, opportunities and highlights from across the department.
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Department of Poultry Science |
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| AgriLife Poultry Extension Unit |
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Texas A&M Poultry Judging Team |
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| Texas A&M Poultry Science Club |
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Giving to the Department of Poultry Science
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Our mission is to be a leading source for the discovery and dissemination of information, technology and experience to students, the poultry industry and society. But we can't do it alone.
Your gift will have a lasting impact on our students and program, whether through supporting research initiatives, student scholarships, faculty or more.
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About the Department of Poultry Science
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The Department of Poultry Science is one of the most comprehensive poultry science programs in the country, with academic, research and service components spanning from modern poultry management to the most cutting-edge biotechnology.
Our hands-on, student-centered approach provides students with high-impact research opportunities, relevant industry experience and exposure to some of the greatest challenges poultry producers face. Graduates of our department leave with knowledge of bird production, processing, business management and research developments in genetics and physiology.
aglifesciences.tamu.edu | poultry.tamu.edu
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