MSU breaks ground on new poultry feed mill
Contact: Karen Brasher
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University 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 MSU’s South Farm.
Designed to connect research, education and real-world application, the feed mill will enable MSU 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, MSU 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 Mississippi State University 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 Mississippi State University 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 www.poultry.msstate.edu. Find MAFES online at www.mafes.msstate.edu. For more information about Ottevanger Milling Engineers, visit www.ottevanger.com.