С�� breaks ground on new poultry feed mill

Mississippi State and industry representatives celebrate the groundbreaking of a poultry feed mill at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s H. H. Leveck Animal Research Center. Pictured from left are Darrell Sparks, acting С�� College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean and MAFES acting director; Keith Coble, С�� Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine vice president; Scott Willard, С�� Office of Research and Economic Development interim dean, CALS dean and MAFES director; Ken Macklin, С�� Department of Poultry Science head; Kendra Waldbusser, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation; Richard Obermeyer, Aviagen; Bob Loar, Cal-Maine Foods Inc.; Mark Lemons, Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC; Ed Fletcher, Koch Foods LLC; Bobby Jones, Amick Farms LLC; Mary Beck, retired С�� Department of Poultry Science head; Mark Nazelrodt, Ottevinger Milling Engineers; Tim Cummings, Zoetis; and Mark Leggett, Mississippi Poultry Association. (Photo by David Ammon)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—С��sity broke ground Thursday [May 7] on a new poultry feed mill that will strengthen research, teaching and industry collaboration.

(Video by Ottevanger Milling Engineers)

The modular, containerized system, manufactured by Netherlands-based Ottevanger Milling Engineers, will be located at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s H. H. Leveck Animal Research Center, commonly known as С��’s South Farm.

Designed to connect research, education and real-world application, the feed mill will enable С�� teams to produce controlled test batches for trials, provide students with hands-on training in feed manufacturing and offer a scalable platform for future growth as programs and partnerships expand.

“Feed and feed manufacturing account for most operational costs for poultry producers, and proper nutrition is essential to poultry health, growth and production,” said Kelley Wamsley, С�� poultry science professor and MAFES scientist. “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.”

The compact system is designed for flexibility and consistency in an academic setting, with a planned capacity of 2-3 tons per hour. The process will include intake, grinding, mixing and bagging, along with an integrated pelleting line supported by steam and liquid dosing as needed.

“It is a pleasure collaborating with С��sity to design and build this modular, state-of-the-art feed mill,” said Mark Nazelrodt, area sales manager at Ottevanger, a global leader in poultry feed mill engineering. “This facility will enhance research capabilities while helping educate the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

Mississippi’s poultry industry—the state’s leading agricultural commodity—along with allied industries, have supported the project through gifts to the university, technical input and service on the feed mill advisory board. Established in 2020, the board helped evaluate proposals and select Ottevanger to lead the modular mill design and construction.

“Wayne-Sanderson Farms is honored to partner with С��sity and support one of the top poultry science programs in the nation,” said Wayne-Sanderson Farms President and CEO Kevin McDaniel. “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.”

In addition to Wayne-Sanderson Farms, project donors include Amick Farms, Aviagen, Mary M. Beck and Ron J. Johnson, Cal-Maine Foods, Hy-line North America, Koch Foods, Mar-Jac Poultry, Steve and Linda McLaurin, MAFES, Novus International, Peco Foods, Phibro Animal Health, Pilgrim’s Pride and Zoetis, as well as small private gifts by individuals.

To make a gift to the poultry feed mill, contact Development Director Lacey Gordon at 662-325-6312 or lmr287@msstate.edu or Assistant Development Director Noah Berry at 662-325-7000 or nb1101@msstate.edu.

Learn more about Mississippi State’s Department of Poultry Science at . Find MAFES online at . For more information about Ottevanger Milling Engineers, visit .

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