SPRING HILL, TENN. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is investing in the construction of a state-of-the-art, next-generation poultry research and education facility. Nearly 100 state and local officials and members of the poultry production and processing industry joined university officials on May 2 to celebrate the official groundbreaking at the institute’s Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Spring Hill.

Construction is expected to be completed in the latter part of 2025, and at maximum capacity, the facility will house approximately 160,000 broiler chickens.

The planned facility will have four commercial-size (54’ x 600’) broiler production houses as well as supporting facilities, including a research and teaching lab and office spaces. In remarks during the groundbreaking celebration, Shane Joyner, vice president for live operations, Tyson Foods Inc., said the main focus of the facility is researching production animal health and well-being in addition to industry and environmental sustainability.

“With UT’s expertise in research and our expertise in the industry, we are going to do a lot of good things for a lot of people,” Joyner said. “This facility will become a talent hub for the industry in the area, and we’ve needed that for a long time.”

The university intends for the new facility to be “the premier commercial broiler research unit in the country.” Poultry production and processing is a $10 billion industry in Tennessee, and the state ranks 15th in broiler production in the United States with statewide processing capacity of more than 8 million birds per week. Approximately 45% of the world’s broiler meat traces back to Tennessee’s primary breeder operations and genetics, according to the university.

“From precision livestock farming techniques to sprinkler cooling and water conservation efforts, to the latest in lighting research and the most advanced animal welfare research, the facility will provide students and researchers, growers, and allied industry personnel opportunities that have never before been possible,” said Hongwei Xin, dean of UT AgResearch.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension.