Dr. Phil Stayer was the Senior Veterinarian responsible for flock health at Sanderson Farms. Following the acquisition of the company by a consortium of Cargill, Inc. and Continental Grain to form Wayne-Sanderson Farms, he elected to take a severance package and initiated a consultancy practice. Recently, CHICK-NEWS had the opportunity to review his career and future plans.
CHICK-NEWS: Phil, please share your background and training with the readership.
Stayer: I was raised in York, PA in a suburban home and after high school graduation, enrolled at Penn State. As a pre-vet major during this time, I worked as a student assistant on the poultry research farm as my first introduction to poultry production. After graduation, I enrolled in a DVM program at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1989. During my final clinical year of veterinary studies I undertook a mixed externship with Rocco Poultry in Virginia that stimulated my interest in broiler production. After a short period in general small animal practice, I undertook an MS program in poultry disease at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1991. I was board certified as a member of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians in 1994.
CHICK-NEWS: What experience did you obtain in industry after graduation?
Stayer: I worked with Arbor Acres Farm, now part of Aviagen, for three years in various roles advising customers and interacting with fellow poultry health professionals. This was followed by an 8-year term with Elanco Animal Health as a Technical Service Veterinarian with both domestic and international exposure.
CHICK-NEWS: Your major involvement with the broiler industry was with Sanderson Farms. Please share some observations.
Stayer: I joined Sanderson in 2001 until my resignation in 2023 from successor company Wayne-Sanderson Farms. At Sanderson I became the customer a reversal of when I was on the other side of the customer-supplier relationship. In 2001, Sanderson Farms had five Live Production divisions in Mississippi and Texas. Over the next 22 years I participated in growing, protecting and producing broilers in six more brand-new facilities in three states, with Sanderson Farms becoming the third largest broiler producer in the US.
During my tenure I built bonds with other Sanderson Farms team members, mostly in Live Production, but also in Management, Processing, Quality Assurance and Training. Through the company expansion I recruited three other ACPV certified veterinarians for Live Production.
The position required interaction with universities, state veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories and trade associations in every state in which Sanderson Farms operated. My work involved aspects of animal welfare, biosecurity attesting to the need for adaptability and flexibility in modern broiler production.
CHICK-NEWS: During your tenure with Sanderson Farms, was there any experience that was extremely rewarding?
Stayer: I enjoyed working with students undertaking externships. Students that spent more than two weeks with me had the opportunity to conduct projects worthy to reporting at AAAP or similar venues. They were assigned projects and there was considerable satisfaction in observing their progress in diagnostic accumen and relating field observations with their theoretical knowledge.
CHICK-NEWS: From your career perspective, what challenges face poultry health professionals at the current time in the industry?
Stayer: There is a lack of available interventions through the restrictions imposed by FDA. The second contentious aspect is the definition of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship which limits one’s professional practice to the wishes of the client, most demonstrable in flocks destined for Raised Without Antibiotics or similar marketing claims. From a practical perspective, emergence of variants of existing viral and bacterial pathogens represents a challenge in determining treatment and more importantly prevention.
CHICK-NEWS: Do you have any messages for the Profession?
Stayer: Veterinarians have an important role in promoting the industry, especially to consumers with regard to food safety and welfare. As respected professionals we have to constantly dispel misinformation and convince consumers that the broiler industry is ethical and responsible for producing inexpensive, high-quality protein that is sustainable. As professionals and scientists, we must be prepared to evaluate new technology including a range of vector vaccines and innovative methods of administration. Specialty trained poultry veterinarians are uniquely trained to assist with implementation of new technologies to improve flock health and bird performance, so I foresee a bright future for poultry veterinarians.