By Claire Marie Coleman
University of Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. — Chicken is one of the most widely eaten proteins in the world. The poultry industry contributes more than $41.8 billion to Georgia’s economy each year. The U.S. alone consumes 8 billion chickens per year and approximately 250 eggs per capita. With the help of modern breeding techniques, there has been a drastic increase in meat yield and egg production to help meet this high demand.
However, as chickens grow larger and produce more eggs, growth-related issues in broilers and laying hens have become more common. Researchers at. . .