Allen Harim, a leading producer and processor of chicken on Delmarva, was honored recently for its decade-long commitment to poultry environmental research conducted at the University of Delaware’s Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown.
The poultry company has provided all the baby chicks and feed at the facility’s two test chicken houses, where research has been conducted on environmental issues related to growing broiler chickens. An Allen Harim company-owned chicken farm has also been used for important research, said Dr. Mark Isaacs, director of the Carvel Research and Education Center.
Some of the research has involved searching for ways to control ammonia in chicken houses that is released in poultry litter. Studies have shown that using certain additives during the growing cycle helps reduce pH levels and thereby reducing ammonia, for better bird health and less emissions.
“Since these kinds of poultry litter additives were first introduced on Delmarva, we’ve probably prevented close to 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted in the atmosphere,” said Dr. Bernie Murphy of Jones Hamilton Co., a key private sector partner in the university’s research. “We are grateful to Allen Harim for providing us this opportunity. Without their help, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
“As a company, we fully support this kind of important environmental research that helps us as an industry improve every aspect of growing chickens,” said Rory DeWeese, Senior Director of Live Operations for Allen Harim. “We are committed to looking for ways to help reduce our environmental impact while improving the bottom line for our growers. Thanks to the University of Delaware and Jones Hamilton Co. for this partnership.”
