2025 PSA Pacific Rim Scientific Conference Symposium Details

2025 PSA Pacific Rim Scientific Conference Symposia

Explore the latest advancements in poultry science through our focused symposia, each designed to highlight emerging research, global challenges, and practical solutions in key areas of the field. Learn more about each symposium below and plan your conference experience around the topics that matter most to you.

  1. Myopathies in fast growing broilers: challenges to growers and the meat industry
  2. Poultry Mycoplasma, Antibiotics in lay and AMR Symposium
  3. The current and future perspective of ChickenGTEx and its applications in precision breeding
  4. Managing raw material quality, variability and digestibility for optimum broiler performance and gut health
  5. Animal Welfare Around the World – Different Perspectives on a Shared Goal
  6. Steering nitrogen emission from poultry production through precision nutrition
  7. Hormonal regulation of growth and body composition in poultry

Chair: Shai Barbut, University of Guelph

Myopathies in fast growing broilers surfaced about 15 years ago. They mainly affect the breast fillets (Pectoralis major) and include conditions mainly described as woody breast [WB], white striping [WS], and spaghetti meat [SM], but also can be seen sometime in the Pectorals minor (described as “feathering”) and the back muscle (dorsal cranial). The major myopathies, costing the industry US$ 1 billion, will be described and global data presented. As there are multiple factors impacting the occurrence of these myopathies, their reduction currently relies on a holistic approach. Ongoing breeding strategies target the longer-term genetic component, while the influence of nongenetic factors (e.g., management, nutrition) currently remain key areas of opportunity. The symposium will focus on the physiology and biological needs of muscle through the life of the fast-growing birds.
2:00 pm Multi-Omic Insights: Comprehensive views of biological processes associated with growth-related myopathies
Yuwares Malila, CPF Food Research and Development Center; National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

2:40 pm Meat quality: A primary breeder’s approach
Richard Bailey, Aviagen Ltd.
 
3:20 pm Addressing myopathies in a broiler breeding program
William Herring, Cobb-Vantress
 
4:00 pm Break
4:30 pm Nutritional aspects of myopathies in fast growing broilers
Douglas R. Korver, Alpine Poultry Nutrition Inc.; University of Alberta
 
5:10 pm Global perspectives of myopathies in fast growing broilers
Shai Barbut, University of Guelph
5:50 pm Roundtable discussion

Chair: Robin A. Achari, Bioproperties

This symposium will look at routine administration of antibiotics in lay; the benefits, the targets (Avian pathogenic mycoplasmas), the problems (Cost, AMR, Emerging antibiotic resistance Mycoplasmas and the chicken microbiota) and alternative solutions. These interactions of these factors has not been widely understood by industry and regulators.

8:00 am Shifting away from routine antibiotic use in breeders and layers is necessary and beneficial
Robin Achari, Bioproperties Pty Ltd.
 
8:25 am In lay antibiotic use in broiler breeders in Southeast Asia. Results of second survey
Magali Charles, Innovative Diagnostics
 
8:50 am Understanding the critical components of effective antimicrobial stewardship in animal health
Glenn Browning, University of Melbourne
 
9:20 am MS control experience in Yellow Broiler Breeders
Manshan Cai, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
 
9:35 am AFCD's measures in addressing antimicrobial resistance in poultry in Hong Kong
Jeremy Ho, Hong Kong SAR Government
 
10:00 am Break

10:30 am Antimicrobial susceptibility in Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in Asia
Zsuzsa Kreizinger, HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute

10:50 am The development of antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae
Miklós Gyuranecz, HUN-REN Veterinary Medical Research Institute; National Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases

11:10 am Genetic studies of multi-resistance in MG and MS
Dieter Bulach, University of Melbourne
 
11:30 am Solution – Vaccination, freedom, biosecurity structural changes needed in the industry to control MG and MS
Christopher Morrow, University of Melbourne
 
11:50 am Discussion

Chairs: Hugo Romero, Novus International Inc. and Anna Fe Rose Perino, Novus International Pte Ltd.

With the improvement of modern broiler genetics, nutritionists need to maximize every nutrient in the raw materials to meet the nutrient requirements. Soybean meal and corn remain to be the major raw materials in feed formulation. But with the constant pressure to reduce feed cost while maximizing broiler performance, the use of alternative raw materials or by-products like palm kernel meal, canola meal and meat and bone meal are becoming more and more popular. The challenge with these types of raw materials is the digestibility and anti-nutritional factors. Using enzyme to maximize digestibility and mitigate the negative effects of anti-nutritional factors is a must. This symposium will bring experts from around the world to share the experience in ingredient quality and evaluation, feed formulation techniques and offer probable solutions for these challenges.

1:00 pm Symposium Problem Introduction
Anna Fe Rose Perino, Novus International Pte, Ltd.
 
1:15 pm Evaluation of raw material quality and its impact on broiler performance
Budi Tangendjaja, US Grains Council
 
2:00 pm Optimizing feed quality and nutrient utilization: Enzyme solutions to synchronize digestive dynamics
Sonia Liu, University of Sydney
 
3:00 pm Break
3:30 pm Formulation techniques to maximize nutrient digestibility for broiler performance and gut health
Miriam Tempra, Vetworks
 
4:05 pm Understanding ingredient evaluation and the use of alternative ingredients in poultry
Hugo Romero, Novus International Inc.; North Carolina State University
 
4:50 pm Panel question and answers

Chair: Jae Cheol Kim, CJ Bio

This symposium will address current knowledge of nitrogen digestion/metabolism dynamics and animals’ response to reduced protein diets in relation to the sustainability of poultry production. Nitrogen precision nutrition and the importance of measuring nutrient (amino acid) content in the feed ingredients for the realization of precision formulation will be discussed.

8:00 am Impact of nitrogen emission from poultry production on global warming and sustainability
Behnam Saremi, CJ Europe GmbH
 
8:40 am Impact of crude protein content in poultry diet on performance, metabolic efficiency, gut health and welfare
Jae Cheol Kim, CJ Bio; CJ Bio APAC
 
9:20 am Reducing nitrogen emissions through precision nitrogen nutrition: What we know so far
Wolfgang Siegert, University of Göttingen
 
10:00 am Break
10:30 am The role of reduced crude protein in AGP-free poultry diets towards enhanced sustainability
Rommel Sulabo, University of the Philippines Los Banos
 
11:10 am Advances in analytical technology to support precision nitrogen nutrition
Sanami Tatekura, AB Vista

11:50 am Panel discussion

Chairs: Inga Tiemann, University of Applied Sciences and Karen Schwean-Lardner, University of Saskatchewan

Animal welfare is a key concern in global poultry production, yet its implementation varies across regions. This symposium brings together experts to explore continent- and species- specific approaches, highlighting regional networks and future direction in animal welfare research. By integrating diverse perspectives, we aim to foster international collaboration and innovative solutions for improved animal welfare worldwide.

1:00 pm Global perspective - The International Poultry Welfare Alliance
 Katy Tarrant, California State University, Fresno

1:30 pm Origin and content of the Scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority: welfare of laying hens and broiler chickens on farm
Michel Virginie, Anses
 
2:00 pm Australian perspective – Does free-range automatically ensure high animal welfare levels?
Dana Campbell, CSIRO
 
2:30 pm Is functional structuring of the broiler barn increasing welfare?
Anja Riber, Aarhus University
 
3:00 pm Break

3:30 pm Technological Perspective – How can PLF support poultry welfare?
Yang Zhao, University of Tennessee
 
4:00 pm Individual Perspective – Flock vs. individual welfare on farm and in research
Inga Tiemann, Osnabrueck University of Applied Sciences
 
4:30 pm Panel discussion
Quo vadis global poultry welfare?
Karen Schwean-Lardner, University of Saskatchewan

Chairs: Lingzhao Fang, Aarhus University and Huaijun Zhou, University of California, Davis

The Chicken Genotype-Tissue Expression (ChickenGTEx) project, part of the FarmGTEx initiative, seeks to unravel the genetic underpinnings of gene expression regulation across diverse biological contexts and environmental conditions in chickens. This mini-symposium will introduce the findings from ChickenGTEx’s pilot phase, highlighting tens of thousands of molecular quantitative trait loci (molQTL) across multiple tissues, and demonstrating the crucial role of regulatory variants in complex phenotypic variation. Participants will discuss strategies for expanding international collaborations to generate a comprehensive, context-specific regulatory map in chickens in next decade. This resource will significantly advance chicken genomics, precision breeding, veterinary medicine, and vertebrate evolution studies.

1:00 pm Welcome remarks
Huaijun Zhou, University of California, Davis
 
1:15 pm The genetic regulation of multi-tissue transcriptome in chickens
Lingzhao Fang, Aarhus University
 
1:50 pm Sex-biased gene regulation across 30 chicken tissues
Haihan Zhang, Hunan Agricultural University
 
2:25 pm Bridging the omics knowledge gap: Integrative metrics for host-microbe interaction networks driving phenotypes
Congjiao Sun, China Agricultural University
 
3:00 pm Break

3:30 pm Mapping the regulatory genetic landscape of complex traits using advanced intercross line
Xiaoxiang Hu, China Agricultural University
 
4:05 pm Winding back the clock - The genome edited re-wilded chicken and how to identify functional polymorphisms related to domestication 
Dominic Wright, Linköping University
 
4:40 pm Panel discussion

Chairs: Laura E. Ellestad, University of Georgia and Hongmei Li, South China Agricultural University

This symposium will focus on endocrine mechanisms regulating growth and body composition in poultry, with a particular emphasis on hormones within the somatotropic axis and how they impact muscle accretion. Perspectives on how fundamental information related to hormonal regulation of growth and body composition can be used in practical implementation will be
discussed.

8:00 am Mechanisms regulating induction of pituitary growth hormone production during chicken embryonic development
Tom E. Porter, University of Maryland
 
8:40 am Studies on the mechanism of growth axis genes affecting the balance of adipogenic, myogenic, and osteoblastic differentiation in chickens
Hongmei Li, South China Agricultural University,
 
9:20 am Signaling and epigenetic networks of growth axis genes in chicken myogenesis and muscle development
Minli Yu, Nanjing Agricultural University
 

10:00 am Break
10:30 am IGF2 promotes the differentiation of chicken embryonic myoblast by regulating mitochondrial remodeling
Chang bin Zhao, South China Agricultural University
 
11:05 am Thyroid hormone regulation of the insulin-like growth factor system in avian skeletal muscle
Laura E. Ellestad, University

11:40 am Roundtable discussion

Want to see the schedule?

We are pleased to share the current schedule for the conference. Click the link below to view and start planning your visit to the conference.

View the Schedule

Policy on Symposia

It is required that all symposium presentations be published in either Poultry Science or The Journal of Applied Poultry Research.  Please see the 2025 Symposium Publishing Guidelines for more information.