Michael Persia

APSC 1464 - Intro to Animal Science Lab

AS 314 - Poultry Nutrition (taught as part of the Midwest Poultry Consortium)

Developing an Advanced Poultry Management class with three objectives
 - Travel to the poultry industry
 - Interact with poultry industry leaders on campus
 - Develop an understanding and appreciation of leadership

The overarching focus of Dr. Persia’s research program aims to increase the efficiency of poultry (meat and egg) production through the characterization, understanding and manipulation of bird digestive processes. This aim will be accomplished by generating a better understanding of the nutrient requirements and costs of maintaining healthy gastro-intestinal structure and function and by quantifying the effects of various dietary treatments on nutrient utilization and overall bird performance. Diverse tools will be developed and utilized to evaluate progress, including classical nutrition, physiology, histology and molecular techniques.

Increasing dietary efficiency directly translates into the second research goal/interest of nutrient management. Not only does the efficient use of dietary nutrients to generate salable eggs or meat products result in increased profit, it also reduces the amount of nutrients lost in fecal material (a low value by-product of poultry production). The effects of dietary manipulation of poultry diets will be evaluated in collaboration with college colleagues to minimize the environmental impact of poultry production and result in data leading to a more sustainable poultry model.

A third research goal/interest of the Persia research program is related to the direct needs of the poultry and allied industries in the State of Virgina, the Mid-Atlantic region, the Nation and Internationally. This research will be in collaboration with the industry and will be responsive to short-term critical needs and longer-term more strategic needs and discovery type research.

1) Bobeck, E.A., N.A. Nachtrieb, A.B. Batal and M.E. Persia.  2014.  Effects of xylanase supplementation of corn-soybean meal-dried distiller's grain diets on performance, metabolizable energy and body composition when fed to first-cycle laying hens.  J. Appl. Poult. Res.  (Accepted for Publication).

2) Murugesan, G.R., N. K. Gabler and M.E. Persia.  2014.  Effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation on broiler performance, intestinal nutrient transport and integrity under experimental conditions with increased microbial challenge. Br. Poult Sci. (In Press).  

3) Walugembe, M., M.F. Rothschild and M.E. Persia.  2014. Effects of high fiber ingredients on the performance, metabolizable energy and fiber digestibility of broiler and layer chicks.  An Feed Sci and Tech. 188:46– 52.  

4) Persia, M.E., M. Higgins, T. Wang, D. Trample and E.A. Bobeck.  2013. Effects of long-term supplementation of laying hens with high concentrations of cholecalciferol on performance and egg quality.  Poult. Sci. 92:2930–2937.

5) Bobeck, E.A., R.L. Payne, B.J. Kerr and M.E. Persia. 2013.  Supplemental lysine sulfate does not negatively affect performance of broiler chicks fed dietary sulfur from multiple dietary and water sources. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22:461-468.

6) Murugesan, G.R. and M.E. Persia.  2013.  Validation of the effects of small differences in dietary ME and feed restriction in first-cycle laying hens.  Poult. Sci. 92:1238-1243.

7) Sun, H., E.J. Lee, H. Samaraweera, M. Persia, and D.U. Ahn.  2013.  Effects of increasing concentrations of corn distillers dried grains with solubles on chemical composition and nutrient content of egg. Poult. Sci. 92:233-244.  

8) Yao, L., T. Wang, M.E. Persia, R.L. Horst, and M. Higgins.  2013.  Effects of vitamin D3-enriched diet on egg yolk vitamin D3 content and yolk quality.  J. Food Chem. 78:c178-c183.

9) Green, J. and M.E. Persia.  2012.  The effects of feeding high concentrations of cholecalciferol, phytase or the combination on broiler chicks fed various concentrations of nonphytate phosphorus.  J. Appl. Poult Res. 21:579-587.

10) Loop, S.A., K.G.S. Lilly, L.K. Shires, C.K. Gehring, K.R. Beaman, M.E. Persia, and J.S. Moritz.  2012.  In Vitro testing of phytase retention post-pelleting may not adequately predict efficacy.  J. Appl. Poult. Res. 21 :492–501.  

11) Sun, H., E. J. Lee, H. Samaraweera, M. Persia, H. S. Ragheb, and D.U. Ahn.  2012.  Effects of increasing concentrations of corn distillers dried grains with solubles on the egg production and internal quality of eggs.  Poult Sci. 91:3236-3246.  

12) Schmidt, C. J., M. E. Persia, E. Feierstein, B. Kingham and W. W. Saylor.  2009.  Comparison of a modern broiler and a heritage line unselected since the 1950’s.  Poult. Sci. 88:2610-2619.

1) Hanson, M.N. and M.E. Persia.  2014.  Effects of Dietary Soy Inclusion on Broiler Chick Performance and Metabolizable Energy. AS-Leaflet-R2896

2) Ehr, I., B.J. Kerr and M.E. Persia.  2014.  Effect of Slow and Rapid Peroxidation of Corn Oil on the Performance and Energy Storage of Broiler Chicks.  AS-Leaflet-R2898

3) Hongyu, S., E.J. Lee, H. Samaraweera, M.E. Persia and D.U. Ahn.  2014.  Effects of Increasing Concentrations of Corn Dried Distiller’s Grains with Solubles on the Egg Production and Internal Quality of Eggs.  AS-Leaflet-R2899

4) Murugesan G.R., Weber T.E., Persia M.E., Kerr B.J. 2013. Energy Utilization of Reduced Oil-Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (RO-DDGS) in Broiler Chickens. Article published in Feedinfo.com.

5) Murugesan, G.R., B.J. Kerr and M.E. Persia.  2013. Evaluation of Energy Values of Various Oil Sources when Fed to Broiler Chicks.  AS-Leaflet-R2804

6) Murugesan, G.R. and M.E. Persia.  2013. New Model for Examining the Energy Metabolism of Laying Hens.  AS-Leaflet-R2805

7) Bolek, K.J. and M.E. Persia.  2013.  The Effect of Chick Methionine Status on Broiler Performance and Physiological Response to Acute and Chronic Heat Stress.  AS-Leaflet-R2806

8) Murugesan G.R., B.J. Kerr and M.E. Persia.  2012. Evaluation of Energy Values of Various Oil Sources When Fed to Poultry. Article published in Feedinfo.com.

9) Persia M.E., and B.J. Kerr. 2011. Effects of Dietary and Water Sulfur Concentrations on Chick Performance and Water Intake. Article published in Feedinfo.com.

10) Persia, M.E.  2007.  Maximizing nutrient release and/or absorption through utilization of second generation phytase: Quantum Phytase™.  Article published in FeedInfo.com.

11) Persia, M.E. and W.W. Saylor.  2006.  Effects of over-processing soybean meal on phosphorus utilization of chicks.  Article published in FeedInfo.com.