K-State’s Chad Paulk to Address Feed Mill Biosecurity
As the winter season continues its march on the Northeast, the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance (NEAFA) is busy preparing for the 2020 annual meeting on February 4th and 5th at the Albany Marriott Hotel in Albany, NY. This year, the annual meeting’s theme is managing for our future. With legislative appointments and a wide array of seminars and speakers, there’s something that will benefit all of our members. This month, learn more about the first seminar of the annual meeting, delivered by Chad Paulk, an assistant professor at Kansas State University’s Grain Science Department and their Feed Science Group. Paulk’s discussion will focus on feed mill biosecurity and ingredient traceability.
With an area of expertise that focuses on animal food safety, Paulk will focus on biosecurity issues within feed mills. “We’ve learned a lot about disease survivability in feed ingredients at feed mills,” said Paulk. “My goal is to share my experiences, and how animal food safety has played a role in the dairy industry. I hope to provide an insight into how it could influence the industry in the future.”
Paulk has taught at Kansas State for three years, and previously taught at Texas A&M’s Department of Animal Science for 2.5 years. “I’ve always had an interest in improving food production, and during my studies I learned of the importance of feed in its role for safety and the efficiency of production,” said Paulk. “I’ve focused since then on collecting data that can be used by those in agriculture so that they can improve their decision making. We target the biggest questions that producers may have and help them solve those problems.”
This is the first time that Paulk has worked with NEAFA and its membership, and Paulk is looking forward to expanding discussions on food safety to include the industries in the Northeast. “I’m interested to learn about the feed manufacturing practices in the northeast, and if biosecurity is on their radar,” said Paulk. “As well as what they’re doing to implement that at the mill level, and what some of their biggest concerns and needs are. I think this will be a great opportunity to continue our discussions to include more of the feed industry’s needs.”