Department of Animal Science

Faculty

	Michael Persia Assistant Professor Iowa State University 201 Kildee Ames, IA 50011 Phone: 515-294-2700 For Advisor Appointments call 515-294-8587 Fax: 515-294-1399 Email: mpersia@iastate.edu
Education University of Illinois Ph.D.(Animal Nutrition), 2003 The Ohio State University, M.S. (Animal Nutrition), 1999 The Pennsylvania State University, B.S. (Animal and Biological Sciences), 1997
Instruction Dr. Persia currently advises graduate and undergraduate students and will teach in… AnS 223 Poultry Science (3 credits) NutrS 502 Biochemical and Physiological Basis of Nutrition: Vitamins and Minerals (3 credits) AnS 518 Digestive Physiology and Metabolism of Non Ruminants (3 credits) Midwest Poultry Consortium – Center of Excellence (summers in Madison, WI)
Research The overarching focus of Dr. Persia’s research program will aim to increase the efficiency of poultry (egg laying and meat) production through the characterization, understanding and manipulation of bird digestive processes. This aim will be accomplished by generating a better understanding of the nutrient requirements and costs of maintaining healthy gastro-intestinal structure and function and by quantifying the effects of various dietary treatments on nutrient utilization and overall bird performance. Diverse tools will be developed and utilized to evaluate progress, including classical nutrition, histology, and molecular techniques. Increasing dietary efficiency directly translates into the second research goal/interest of nutrient management. Not only does the efficient use of dietary nutrients to generate salable eggs or meat products result in increased profit, it also reduces the amount of nutrients lost in fecal material (a low value by-product of poultry production). The effects of dietary manipulation of poultry diets will be evaluated in collaboration with college colleagues to minimize the environmental impact of poultry production and result in data leading to a more sustainable poultry model. A third research goal/interest of the Persia research program will be related to the more direct needs of the poultry and allied industries in the State of Iowa, the Nation and Internationally. This research will be in collaboration with the industry and will be responsive to short-term critical needs and longer-term more strategic needs and discovery type research.
Professional Affiliations Poultry Science Association Southern Society of Poultry Science World Poultry Science Society Midwest Poultry Consortium and Center of Excellence Gamma Sigma Delta
Selected Publications Persia, M. E., J. E. Eaton and W. W. Saylor. 2009. Effects of over-processing soybean meal on phosphorus utilization of chicks. Poult. Sci. (submitted). Schmidt, C. J., M. E. Persia, E. Feierstein, B. Kingham and W. W. Saylor. 2009. Comparison of a modern broiler and a heritage line unselected since the 1950’s. Poult. Sci. (In Press). Persia, M. E.. and W. W. Saylor. 2006. Effects of broiler strain, dietary nonphytate phosphorus and phytase supplementation on chick performance and tibia ash. J. Appl. Poult. Res. (15:72-81). Persia, M. E., E. L. Young, P. L. Utterback, and C. M. Parsons. 2006. Effects of dietary ingredients and Eimeria acervulina infection on chick performance, MEn and amino acid digestibility. Poult. Sci. (85:48-55). Biggs, P. E., M. E. Persia, K. W. Koelkebeck and C. M. Parsons. 2004. Further evaluation of nonfeed removal methods for molting programs. Poult. Sci. 83:745- 752. Persia, M. E., D. H. Baker and C. M. Parsons. 2004. Tolerance for excess levels of basic zinc chloride and basic copper chloride in chicks. Br. Poult. Sci. 45:672- 676. Snow, J. L., M. W. Douglas, K. W. Koelkebeck, A. B. Batal, M. E. Persia, P. E. Biggs and C. M. Parsons. 2004. Minimal phosphorus requirement of one cycle and two cycle (molted) hens. Poult. Sci. 83:917-924. Douglas, M. W., M. E. Persia and C. M. Parsons. 2003. Impact of galactose, lactose and Growbiotic-B70™ on growth performance and energy utilization when fed to broiler chicks. Poult. Sci. 82:1596-1601. Persia, M. E., C. M. Parsons and D. H. Baker. 2003. Amelioration of oral copper toxicity in chicks by dietary additions of ascorbic acid, cysteine and zinc. Nutr. Research 23:1709-1718. Persia, M. E., C. M. Parsons and K. W. Koelkebeck. 2003. Interrelationship between environmental temperature and dietary nonphytate phosphorus in chicks. Poult. Sci. 82:1616-1623. Persia, M. E., C. M. Parsons, M. Schang, and J. Azcona. 2003. Nutritional evaluation of dried tomato seeds. Poult. Sci. 82:141-146. Persia, M. E., P. L. Utterback, P. E. Biggs, K. W. Koelkebeck and C. M. Parsons. 2003. Interrelationship between environmental temperature and dietary nonphytate phosphorus in laying hens. Poult. Sci. 82:1763-1768. Snow, J. L., M. W. Douglas, A. B. Batal, M. E. Persia, P. E. Biggs and C. M. Parsons. 2003. Efficacy of High Available Phosphorus Corn in Laying Hen Diets. Poult. Sci. 82:1037-1041. Snow, J. L., M. E. Persia, P. E. Biggs, D. H. Baker and C. M. Parsons. 2003. 1 α -hydroxycholecalciferol has little effect on phytate phosphorus utilization in laying hen diets. Poult. Sci. 82:1792-1795. Persia, M. E., B. A. Dehority, and M. S. Lilburn. 2002. The effects of enzyme supplementation of corn- and wheat-based diets on nutrient digestion and cecal microbial populations in turkeys. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 11:134-145.
Graduate Students Kevin Bolek, MS, Poultry Nutrition Erica Chamney, MS, Poultry Nutrition Muhammed Walugembe, MS, Animal Science
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