Peter Ferket
Professor and Extension Poultry Nutritionist
234-E Scott Hall
Tel: (919) 515-5409
Email: peter_ferket@ncsu.edu
Educational Background
B.S. (1981) University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
M.S. (1983) University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Ph.D (1987) Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Teaching Interests
PO (ANS) 425 Feed Mill Management and Feed Formulation - Feed mill management, feed ingredient purchasing, inventory, storage, and quality evaluation, computerized feed formulation, feeding programs for poultry and swine, feed mill design, equipment, maintenance, operation, safety, state and federal regulations pertaining to feed manufacture.
Extension Interests
My extension program deals with issues related to nutrition and feeding practices of commercial poultry, with an emphasis on meat-type turkeys and broilers. Educational nutrition programs include the Carolina Poultry Nutrition Conference held annually in December, and short courses, workshops, and seminars held periodically throughout the state. Topics include feed formulation technology, quality and nutritional value of ingredients, efficacy of feed additives (coccidiostats, antibiotics, probiotics, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, and other neutriceuticals), and nutritional factors that affect health and meat quality. A considerable effort is focused on the conversion of animal and plant by-products (waste) into added-value feed ingredients using technologies such as enzyme hydrolysis, extrusion, and dehydration. Nutritional and economic value of these new feed ingredients are evaluated.
Research Interests
My research interests complement my extension activities: applied nutrition research of commercial meat-type poultry and utilization of agricultural co-products as feed ingredients for poultry. Most of my research is done with turkeys and some with broilers in the following areas: 1) nutritional factors that affect immune function, skeletal development, growth characteristics, and meat quality. Specific projects have focuses on: 1) antioxidant vitamins (Vitamin E and C), organic minerals, electrolyte balance, and amino acid balance; 2) use of supplemental enzymes to improve feed digestibility and gut health; 3) evaluation of the nutritional value of triticale for poultry; 4) evaluation of anti-coccidials and antibiotics in turkey feeding programs; and 5) nutritional factors that affect digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and early poult enteritis.
The environmental component of my research relates to the utilization of poultry waste by-products. An automated method of preserving and storing poultry mortalities by lactic acid fermentation is being developed. The poultry silage produced is the processed by extrusion or fluidized-bed drying to produce high value feed ingredients for poultry, animal, pet, or aquaculture foods. The nutritional value and feasibility of ingredients produced from other by-product wastes are also evaluated using feeding trials. Much of this research is in support of the Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center.
Presentations
Influence of Early Nutrition and Development on the Health and Growth Performance of Poultry
Nutrition and Gut Health of Poultry
Potential of Nutrition to Reduce Nutrient Emissions from Poultry Operations
Poultry Feed and the Quality and Safety of Poultry Meat and Eggs
Publications
Santos, F., B. Sheldon, A. Santos, P. Ferket, M. Lee, A. Pedroso, and D. Smith. 2007. Determination of Ileum microbial Diversity by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of 16S Ribosomal DNA Amplicons of Broilers Fed Triticale- or Corn-based Diets and Colonized by Salmonella. J. Applied Poultry Research (In review).
Foye, O.T., Z. Uni, and P.R. Ferket. 2007. Intra-amnionic Nutrient Administration, In Ovo Feeding (IOF), Enhances Jejunal Digestive and Absorptive Capacity in Embryonic and Neonatal Turkey Poults. J. of Nutrition (In review).
Santos Jr., A. A., P. R. Ferket, F. B. O. Santos, J. L. Grimes, F. W. Edens. 2007. Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Endoxylanases and Phospholipase on Intestinal Size and Histomorphometry of Turkeys fed Wheat-Based Diets. J. Applied Poultry Research (In review)
Santos, A. A. Jr., P. R. Ferket, F. B. O. Santos, N. Nakamura, C. Collier, and H. R. Gaskins. 2007. Change in Ileum Bacterial Population of Turkeys Fed Different Diets and After Infection with Salmonella spp. as Determined with Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis of Amplified 16S Ribosomal DNA. Poultry Science (In review)
Santos Jr. A.A. , P.R. Ferket, F.B.O. Santos, J.L. Grimes, and B.W. Sheldon. 2007. Effect of Dietary Enzyme Supplementation and Non-Starch Polysaccharide Content on Performance, Intestinal Morphometry and Salmonella spp. Colonization of Turkeys. Poultry Science: (in review).
Santos, F., B. Sheldon, A. Santos, and P. Ferket. 2007. Influence of housing system, grain type and particle size on Salmonella colonization and shedding of broilers fed triticale- or corn-soybean meal diets. Poultry Science: 86 (In review).
Cheema, M. A., M. A. Qureshi, G. B. Havenstein, P. R. Ferket and K. E. Nestor. 2007. A Comparison of the immune response of 2003 commercial turkeys and a 1966 randombred strain when fed representative 2003 and 1966 turkey diets. Poultry Sci. 86: (In Press).
Havenstein, G. B., P. R. Ferket, J. L. Grimes, M. A. Qureshi, and K. E. Nestor. 2007. Comparison of the performance of 1966 vs. 2003-type turkeys when fed representative 1966 and 2003 turkey diets: growth rate, livability, and feed conversion. Poultry Sci. 86: (In Press)
Ferket, P.R., and A.G. Gernat, 2006. Factors that affect feed intake meat birds: a review. International J. Poultry Science 5(10):905-911.
Oviedo-Rondon, E. O., P. R. Ferket, and G. B. Havenstein, 2006. Nutritional factors that affect leg problems in broilers and turkeys. Avian & Poultry Biology Reviews 17 (3):89-103.
Oviedo-Rondon, E. O., P. R. Ferket, and G. B. Havenstein, 2006. Understanding long bone development in broilers and turkeys. Avian & Poultry Biology Reviews 17 (3):77-88.
Santos, F.B.O., A.A. Santos Jr., P.R. Ferket and B.W. Sheldon, 2006. Influence of Grain Particle Size and Insoluble Fiber Content on Salmonella Colonization and Shedding of Turkeys Fed Corn-Soybean Meal Diets. International Journal of Poultry Science 5 (8): 731-739, 2006
Foye, O.T., Z. Uni, and P.R. Ferket, 2006. Effect of in ovo feeding egg white protein, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, and carbohydrates on glycogen status and neonatal growth of turkeys. Poult. Sci. 2006 85: 1185-1192.
Foye, O.T., Z. Uni, J.P. McMurtry and P.R. Ferket, 2006. The Effects of Amniotic Nutrient Administration, "In ovo Feeding" of Arginine And/or beta-Hydroxy-beta-Methyl Butyrate (HMB) on Insulin-like Growth Factors, Energy Metabolism and Growth in Turkey Poults. International Journal of Poultry Science 5 (4): 309-317.
Fasina, Y.O., H. L. Classen, J. D. Garlich, B. L. Black, P. R. Ferket, Z. Uni, and A. A. Olkowski, 2006. Response of turkey poults to soybean lectin levels typically encountered in commercial diets. 2. effect on intestinal development and lymphoid organs. Poultry Science 85:870–877.
Smirnov, A., E. Tako, P.R. Ferket, and Z. Uni, 2006. Mucin gene expression and mucin content in the chicken intestinal goblet cells are affected by in ovo feeding of carbohydrates. Poultry Science 85:669-673.
Moore, D.T., P.R. Ferket and P.E. Mozdziak, 2005. Early Post-Hatch Fasting Induces Satellite Cell Self-Renewal. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 142:331-339.
Moore, D.T., P.R. Ferket and P.E. Mozdziak, 2005. The effect of early nutrition on satellite cell dynamics in the young turkey Poultry Science 84: 748-756.
Moore, D.T., P.R. Ferket and P.E. Mozdziak, 2005. Muscle Development in the Late Embryonic and Early Post-Hatch Poult. International Journal of Poultry Science 4 (3): 138-142, 2005.
Tako, E., P. R. Ferket, and Z. Uni, 2005. Changes in chicken intestinal zinc exporter mRNA expression and small intestine functionality following intra-amniotic zinc-methionine administration. J. Nutritional Biochemistry 15:339-346.
Uni, Z., P. R. Ferket, E. Tako, and O. Kedar, 2005. In Ovo Feeding Improves Energy Status of Late-Term Chicken Embryos. Poultry Science 84(5):764-770.
Moore, D.T., P.R. Ferket, and P.E. Mozdziak, 2005. The Effect of Early Nutrition on Satellite Cell Dynamics in the Young Turkey. Poultry Science 84(5):748-756.
Moore, D.T., P.R. Ferket, and P.E. Mozdziak, 2005. Muscle Development in the Late Embryonic and Early Post-Hatch Poult. International Journal of Poultry Science 4 (3): 138-142, 2005.
Veldkamp, T., R. P. Kwakkel, P. R. Ferket, and M. W. A. Verstegen , 2005. Growth Responses to Dietary Energy and Lysine at High and Low Ambient Temperature in Male Turkeys. Poultry Sci 84(2):273-282.
Tako. E., P.R. Ferket, and Z. Uni, 2005. Changes in Chicken Intestinal Zinc Exporter (ZnT1) mRNA Expression and small intestine functionality following an Intra Amniotic Zinc-Methionine (ZnMet) administration. J. Nutritional Biochemistry16:339-346.
Back to Top
Site Map | NC Cooperative Extension | NC State