Sustainable Development

Research Interests:

Sustainable poultry production, regenerative agriculture and livestock production, ecological poultry practices including local feeds and nutrient cycling, insects as feed, responsible antimicrobial use, animal welfare, one health for animal/human/planet interconnections, poultry biodiversity and differentiated genetics, integration of poultry with pasture and agroforestry, carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services provided by livestock, small-scale poultry slaughter and processing, creating social justice in agriculture, international outreach in Latin America, beginning farmer and military veteran training in agriculture

Education

• 2007 Ph.D. Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
• 1992 M.S. Animal Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 
• 1985 B.A. Zoology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
• 1985 B.A. Spanish, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Courses Taught

•  Principles of Agroecology (SD 3100)
• Sustainable Livestock (SD 3250)
• One Health: Animal, Human, and Ecological Well-being(SD 3535)
• Farm Business Management (SD 3300)
• Applied Farming Operations I and II (SD 3125 and SD 4125)
• Curricular innovations: Agroecology Outreach, Methods in Agroecology Research, Sustainable Poultry (on-line; in development)

Background

I am interested in the relationship of ecology and equity in agriculture.  After college, I joined the US Peace Corps and served in Costa Rica (‘87-89), working at a tropical agriculture research center (CATIE) and developing agroforestry projects with local farmers.  I completed an M.S. in Animal Science at Oregon State University (OSU) studying alternative feeds for livestock, including temperate tree forages for rabbits.  As a graduate student, I managed the Rabbit Research Center at OSU, including a 30-doe herd.  After graduation, I joined the nonprofit organization, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT; Southeast Regional Office) in Arkansas.  I wrote educational materials on sustainable poultry production and developed outreach programs for 15 years.  I completed a Ph.D. in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas (UA) to study the impact of genetics, production system, and nutrition on meat chicken performance and meat quality for organic and specialty markets.    I conducted post-doctoral research with the USDA ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit and developed an organic poultry research facility.   I also studied poultry welfare and was trained in broiler welfare (PAACO).  I have served on scientific committees for Humane Farm Animal Care and American Humane Association. 

I joined the faculty of the Sustainable Development Department at Appalachian State University in 2010.  I teach regenerative agriculture, livestock, and poultry to undergraduate students.  I developed a Pastured Poultry Research facility at the SD Farm, a woodlot swine facility, and other livestock operations.  I conduct research on ecological feeding for pastured broilers and developed a mobile processing unit for small-scale slaughter.    My outreach program focuses on sustainable poultry education and responsible use of antibiotics, including participatory work with consumers and other stakeholders.  I also conduct beginning farmer training focused on helping military veterans explore farming, particularly swine and poultry integrated with agroforestry practices.  I explore the role of agricultural and livestock production in providing healthy food for all, ecosystem services, meaningful livelihoods, and social justice to build resilient communities.

Representative Publications

• Upadhyaya, I, K. Arsi, A. Fanatico, B. R. Wagle, S. Shrestha, A. Upadhyay, C. N. Coon, M. Schlumbohm, J. Trushenski, C. Owens-Hanning, M. N. Riaz, M. B. Farnell, D. J. Donoghue, and A.M.Donoghue. 2019. Bigheaded Carp-Based Meal as a Sustainable and Natural Source of Methionine in Feed for Ecological and Organic Poultry Production. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 28(4):1131–1142 https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfz077.
• Fanatico, A.C., K. Arsi, I. Upadhyaya, J. Morales Ramos, D. Donoghue, A.M. Donoghue. 2018. Sustainable Fish and Invertebrate Meals for Methionine and Protein Feeds in Organic Poultry Production. J. Appl. Poul. Res. 27(4):437-448 https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfy037
• Arsi, K., A. M. Donoghue, I. Upadhyaya, A. Upadhyay, B. R. Wagle, S. Shrestha, K. Venkitanarayanan, M. J. Darre, A. Kollanoor-Johny, A. C. Fanatico, A. J. Pescatore, J. Jacob, R. M. Hulet, A. J. Byrd, O. J. Gekara, J. R. Moyle, and D. J. Donoghue. 2017. Alternatives to Antibiotics: Novel Strategies to Reduce Foodborne Pathogens in Organic Poultry. Midwest Poultry Federation. Mar 14-17, 2017. St Paul, MN. http://midwestpoultry.com/attendees/2017-mpf-proceedings/
• Fanatico, A. C., J. A. Mench, G. S. Archer , Y. Liang, V. B. Brewer Gunsaulis, C M. Owens, and A. M. Donoghue. 2016. Effect of Outdoor Structural Enrichments on the Performance, Use of Range, and Behavior of Free-range Meat Chickens. Poultry Science 95(9):1980-8. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew196
• Fanatico, A.C. 2016. Ecological Poultry Production: A Nutritional Agroecology Perspective. V Simposio Internacional sobre Avicultura de Traspatio. Veracruz, Mexico. Ed. Mónica de la Cruz Vargas Mendoza. COLPOS Veracruz, Oct. 18, 2016. http://www.avc.org.mx/ricyt2016/
• Fanatico, A.C., C. M. Owens-Hanning, V. Brewer Gunsaulis, and A. M. Donoghue. 2015. Choice feeding of protein concentrate and grain to organic meat chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 2016, 25 (2), 156-164. doi: 10.3382/japr/pfv076
• Fanatico, A.C. V. B. Brewer, C. M. Owens-Hanning , D. J. Donoghue , and A. M. Donoghue. 2013 Free-choice Feeding of Free-range Meat Chickens. 2013 J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22 :750–758 http://dx.doi.org/ 10.3382/japr.2012-00687
• Fanatico, Anne. 2010. Organic Poultry Production: Providing Adequate Methionine. ATTRA publication, NCAT, Fayetteville, AR. http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/methionine.pdf
• Fanatico, A.C., P. B. Pillai, P.Y. Hester, C. Falcone, J.A. Mench, C.M. Owens, and J. L. Emmert. 2008. Performance, livability, and carcass yield of slow- and fast-growing chicken genotypes raised indoors or with outdoor access. Poult. Sci. 87:1012-1021.

Agroecology Outreach

See the Sustainable Poultry Outreach page

See Frontline to Farm website