Testing Natural Feed Additives for Blackhead Prevention in Pastured Turkey Flocks

Commodities

• Animals: poultry
• Animal Products: meat

Practices

• Animal Production: animal protection and health, feed additives, parasite control, preventive practices
• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research

Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) poses a severe threat to pastured turkey operations in the Northeast, with mortality rates commonly reaching 50-90%. With no FDA-approved pharmaceutical treatments available, small-scale producers need practical, natural prevention strategies they can implement on-farm.

Over two consecutive years, my pastured turkey flock at my farm experienced approximately 50% mortality from suspected blackhead. After introducing cayenne pepper to the ration in year three, mortality dropped dramatically. While promising, this observation needs rigorous testing under controlled conditions to determine if the effect is replicable and to provide data other farmers can use.

This project will raise 45 turkeys annually for three years in three separate groups (15 birds each): a control group receiving standard feed and management, a cayenne pepper treatment group, and an oregano oil treatment group. All groups will follow identical management practices with only the feed or water additive varying. We will track mortality rates, growth (carcass weight at 4 months), feed conversion efficiency, and general flock health. Necropsies with pathology confirmation will document actual causes of mortality.

Results will be disseminated through annual on-farm field days, published articles through the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA), weekly YouTube videos during growing seasons, my monthly farm newsletter (Skyline Pastures Gazette), podcast appearances, and presentations at the Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Network (PAVFN) conference. This research will provide Northeast pastured poultry producers with evidence-based, affordable alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions for managing one of the most devastating diseases in turkey production.

Primary Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of two natural feed additives-cayenne pepper (capsaicin source) and oregano oil-compared to standard management practices for preventing blackhead disease mortality in pastured turkey flocks.

Specific Measurable Objectives:

1. Mortality Reduction: Compare mortality rates across three treatment groups (control, cayenne, oregano) over three growing seasons, with target data from 45 birds annually (135 birds total). Success defined as statistically detectable difference in mortality rates between treatment and control groups, providing evidence-based guidance to reduce economic losses and support farm viability.
2. Cause-of-Death Confirmation: Submit representative mortality samples for necropsy examination to document actual causes of death and confirm blackhead diagnosis, targeting confirmation on at least 30% of mortalities (up to 20 necropsies budgeted over three years).
3. Growth Performance: Measure and compare average carcass weights at 4 months processing age across all three treatment groups to assess whether feed additives affect growth rates or final product quality.
4. Feed Efficiency: Calculate and compare feed conversion ratios for each treatment group to evaluate economic implications of feed additive supplementation.
5. Economic Feasibility: Document total costs per bird for each treatment (including additive costs, labor, and mortality losses) to provide farmers with practical economic data for decision-making.
6. Outreach Impact: Reach a minimum of 150 Northeast pastured poultry producers through combined outreach activities including:
   • Three annual on-farm field days (targeting 15-20 attendees each)
   • Weekly YouTube video updates during growing seasons (48+ videos total)
   • Monthly newsletter articles (36 articles total over three years)
   • Three to six presentations at regional conferences (PAVFN, PASA, NOFA, or similar venues)
   • Multiple podcast appearances on farming-focused shows
   • Final comprehensive report published in SARE database

Long-term Goals:

Beyond the immediate research outcomes, this project aims to:

• Build a replicable model for on-farm poultry disease research that other producers can adapt to their own challenges
• Contribute to the broader knowledge base on non-pharmaceutical disease management in pastured poultry systems
• Strengthen networks among Northeast pastured turkey producers facing similar challenges
• Demonstrate that farmer-led research can generate rigorous, actionable data when properly designed and documented

Measuring Success:

Success will be evaluated through multiple metrics:

• Quantitative: Mortality rates, growth data, feed conversion ratios with statistical comparison across treatments
• Qualitative: Farmer feedback at field days, adoption reports from outreach participants
• Documentation: Confirmed diagnoses through veterinary pathology, complete data sets published
• Reach: Number of producers accessing information through various outreach channels

Even if results show no benefit from tested treatments, thorough documentation and dissemination of negative results will provide value by preventing other farmers from investing in ineffective strategies.