Better Journeys, Better Welfare: Advancing Poultry Transport Through People and Practice

Symposium schedule (US Eastern time)

9:00 - Allison Pullin, NC State University

Turkey Live Haul Training to Improve Animal Welfare

9:35 – Rita Harkless, Perdue Farms

Perdue’s continuous improvement journey through animal care initiatives

10:05 – Käthe Kittelsen, The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre

Catching of broilers- the importance of cooperation

10:45 – Kevin Stephens, Zinpro

Catching and Handling Programs- Impact on Animal Welfare and Carcass Quality

11:15 – Sameeha Jhetam, University of the Fraser Valley

Small Passengers, Big Stakes - Novel and Current Strategies for Chick Transport

11:45–12:00 Panel Q&A

Speakers

Dr. Allison Pullin, North Carolina State University

Turkey Live Haul Training to Improve Animal Welfare

Dr. Allison Pullin is an Assistant Professor of Animal Welfare in the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University. Her research investigates how management practices and housing design influence the welfare of farmed poultry. Specifically, her projects focus on behavioral challenges with poultry and evidence-based animal welfare audit standards and training tools. She applies science-based assessments of welfare on farms through her role as a PAACO-certified poultry welfare auditor, serves on animal welfare advisory committees for poultry companies, and enjoys working with the turkey industry as Chair of the North Carolina Turkey Industry Days Annual Meeting. 

Rita Harkless, Perdue Farms

Title: Perdue’s Continuous Improvement Journey through Animal Care Initiatives

 Rita Harkless is the Vice President of Animal Care and Live FSQA Compliance. In this role, Rita leads our Animal Care programs and continues to advance Perdue’s leadership in this space. She also continues leading the creation and execution of our Process Verified Programs and overseeing the implementation and continuous improvement of FSQA programs across Live Operations, including Breeders, Hatcheries, Feed Mills, and Grow Out.  Since joining Perdue in 2008 as the Salisbury Harvest Plant HACCP Coordinator, Rita has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, including Georgetown Complex Quality Assurance Manager, Regional Food Safety Manager, and FSQA Process Control in Technical Services. Rita earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Wilmington University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in business management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership.  She is PAACO certified and served as the Chairman of the National Chicken Council’s Broiler Welfare Committee in 2024 and 2025.

Dr. Käthe Kittelsen, The Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre and Norwegian University for Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Title: Catching of Broilers: The Importance of Cooperation

Käthe Elise Kittelsen, DVM, PhD, Dipl ECPVS works for the Norwegian poultry industry and as an associate professor in poultry health at the Norwegian Veterinary faculty. She has extensive expertise in poultry health and welfare, with a particular focus on production-related challenges,  and applied research. Her work combines clinical practice, teaching, and research, alongside advisory roles within the industry. She has authored and co-authored more than 40 scientific publications in the field of animal welfare and poultry science.

Kevin Stephens, Zinpro

Title: Catching and Handling Programs: Impact on Animal Welfare and Carcass Quality

Kevin Stephens has more than three decades of poultry industry experience, including 14 years in turkey and chicken production with Cuddy Farms, Wampler Longacre, and Pilgrim’s Pride. His experience encompasses both live production and processing operations. For the past 19 years, Kevin has served in the allied industry with organizations including Elanco, Nutriad, Adisseo, and Zinpro. At Zinpro, where he has worked for over five years, he specializes in poultry quality assessment through the use of the Perfect Carcass Tool (PCT), supporting customers in improving bird performance, welfare, processing efficiency, and carcass quality.

Dr. Sameeha Jhetam, University of the Fraser Valley

Title: Small Passengers, Big Stakes: Novel and Current Strategies for Chick Transport 

Dr. Sameeha Jhetam is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada. She earned her PhD in Poultry Management and Welfare at the University of Saskatchewan in 2025. Her research focuses on post-hatch stress, hatchery and transport practices for chicks and poults, and applied research that responds to industry challenges.