College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

Contact:  Sara Long
  517-432-1555, ext. 170

EAST LANSING, Mich.— “I scream, you scream, we all scream for…eggs!”

Eggs? That’s right, eggs. Ice cream aficionados who frequent the Michigan State University (MSU) Dairy Store have something new to be enthused about: eggs. Along with your favorite flavor of MSU-made ice cream or cheese, fresh eggs produced locally by laying hens at the MSU Poultry Teaching and Research Center are available for purchase from the MSU Dairy Store.

The addition of eggs to the product line-up is a win-win for both the MSU Poultry Research Farm and the MSU Dairy Store.
             
  The eggs are coming from laying hens that the farm raises for research   projects. Instead of trying to purchase laying hens every time researchers want to embark on a new project, they have them on campus ready to use.
             
  “Having our own (MSU) flock of laying hens really benefits the university’s poultry research program,” said Darrin Karcher, MSU poultry Extension specialist and faculty coordinator at the MSU Poultry Teaching and Research Center. “If every time we wanted to start a new research project we had to purchase young chicks, it would end up costing us 18 weeks or more just to grow the chicks to the point where they could be used in a project.
             
  “Already having a flock of laying hens available and ready to go is more efficient, and we also know how the chickens have been raised and fed,” he said. “In order for the poultry farm to be responsible stewards, it didn’t make sense to dispose of the eggs.”
             
  Instead, a decision was made to market the eggs and try to recuperate some of the expenses incurred from running a laying-hen operation. The MSU Dairy Store had shelf space available and so operators jumped at the chance to bring in new customers.
             
  And, according to Karcher, purchasing fresh eggs at the MSU Dairy Store has an added benefit.
             
  “Not only can customers purchase eggs, but while they’re at the MSU Dairy Store having a delicious ice cream treat, they can get a jumpstart on dinner,” he said. “They can buy some cheese, too, and voila!  They have all the ingredients to make omelets for dinner!” said Karcher.

  In addition to taking pride in knowing that they are supporting an egg producer from their local community, consumers will also be supporting MSU, the MSU Department of Animal Science, and more specifically, the MSU Poultry Teaching and Research Center.
             
  “At this point, the money made from sales is being invested back into the program and helping to sustain the poultry farm operations,” Karcher said.  “Once school is back in session, the MSU Avian Science Club will take control of the project with the resulting profits serving as a fundraiser for the students to take part in various activities and events.”
             
  Currently, only white eggs are available for purchase, but plans are to eventually offer brown eggs and then potentially expand into other value-added products.
             
  “We’re exploring other products that could potentially be popular in the future with the MSU Dairy Store, such as selling hard-boiled eggs, but it’s still in the preliminary stages at this point,” Karcher said. “We’ll take the lead from our customers.”
             
  Eggs cost $1.50 per dozen and are available during regular MSU Dairy Store hours. The MSU Dairy Store has two locations on the East Lansing campus:  Anthony Hall and the MSU Union Building.
             
  Customers can also purchase eggs directly from the MSU Poultry Teaching and Research Center (3217 E. Jolly Rd.) between 4 and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.  Large egg orders should be placed directly with the poultry farm manager Angelo Napolitano by calling 517-355-0360.
             
  The MSU Poultry Teaching and Research Center prides itself on its two-fold mission of educating animal science students interested in a poultry science-related career and conducting basic and applied research that benefits Michigan poultry producers.
             
  For more information about the MSU poultry program or purchasing farm fresh eggs from MSU, contact Karcher at 517-355-8402.