Mississippi State University breaks ground on new poultry feed mill

USA – Mississippi State University has broken ground on a new poultry feed mill designed to strengthen feed research, student training and industry collaboration within the state’s poultry sector.

The modular feed mill, manufactured by Ottevanger Milling Engineers, will be installed at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s H. H. Leveck Animal Research Centre, also known as MSU’s South Farm.

The facility will enable university researchers to produce controlled feed batches for poultry trials and provide students with hands-on experience in feed manufacturing operations. 

University officials said the system has been designed to connect research, education and commercial application.

Kelley Wamsley, poultry science professor at MSU and scientist at MAFES, said feed and feed manufacturing account for a significant share of poultry production costs, making nutrition a critical factor in bird health and productivity.

“The new feed mill will enhance our research and complement our existing commercial facilities, giving students practical experience and allowing them to better understand the industry from farm to fork,” Wamsley said.

The compact containerised system is expected to process between two and three tons of feed per hour. 

It will include intake, grinding, mixing and bagging functions, alongside an integrated pelleting line supported by steam and liquid dosing technology.

Industry-backed investment in poultry research

The project has attracted support from major poultry and animal nutrition companies, reflecting the importance of Mississippi’s poultry industry, the state’s largest agricultural sector.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms President and CEO Kevin McDaniel said the investment would strengthen workforce development and research capacity for the broader poultry industry.

“This impressive expansion doesn’t just benefit the students; it impacts the entire poultry industry as the knowledge and training they receive go into practice in the field,” McDaniel said.

Additional project donors include Aviagen, Cal-Maine Foods, Novus International, Phibro Animal Health, Pilgrim’s Pride and Zoetis, among others.

The advisory board overseeing the project was established in 2020 to evaluate proposals and guide development of the facility.

Mark Nazelrodt, area sales manager at Ottevanger, said the project demonstrates growing collaboration between feed technology providers and academic institutions focused on poultry innovation.

The new feed mill comes as universities and poultry companies increasingly invest in specialised feed research infrastructure to support precision nutrition, feed efficiency and sustainable poultry production. 

Similar investments have been seen globally as producers seek improved feed conversion rates and lower production costs amid volatile raw material markets and growing pressure to improve sustainability across poultry value chains.

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