** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** COMMERCIAL BROILER CHICKENS ARE GENETICALLY-SELECTED FOR FEED EFFICIENCY AND GROWTH THAT CULMINATES IN A MARKET-WEIGHT BIRD IN 35-60 DAYS. UP TO 30% OF TODAY'S HEAVIER BIRDS ARE PRONE TO LEG LAMENESS, AND SPEND 97-99% OF THEIR TIME BUDGET LYING DOWN AS THEY NEAR MARKET WEIGHT. A FAST GROWTH RATE, COMBINED WITH INACTIVITY, LEADS TO LAMENESS PAIN AND DECREASED WELFARE AS EVIDENCED BY INCREASED FOOTPAD LESIONS, BREAST BLISTERS, AND MORTALITY. IN ADDITION, THIS COSTS THE US BROILER INDUSTRY $600,000,000 ANNUALLY. THIS IS A CLEAR WELFARE, ECONOMICAL, AND SUSTAINABILITY CONCERN. ONE WAY TO INCREASE BROILER MOVEMENT/EXERCISE AND REDUCE LAMENESS IS THROUGH THE ADDITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A CRITICAL NEED BY THE NATIONAL CHICKEN COUNCIL. OUR PROPOSAL PRESENTS ORIGINAL PRELIMINARY DATA DEMONSTRATING THE FEASIBILITY OF OUR NOVEL AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LASER DEVICE. THE LASER PROJECTS RANDOMLY MOVING RED LASER DOTS ONTO THE FLOOR SURFACE, WHICH STIMULATES MOVEMENT, INCREASES FEEDER TIME AND IMPROVES FEED CONVERSION AND WEIGHT GAIN WITHOUT SACRIFICING LEG HEALTH, SKIN CONDITION, WALKING ABILITY, OR ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES. THIS TRANSLATES INTO PROJECTED SAVINGS OF 5% IN FEED COSTS PER FLOCK AND POTENTIALLY ADDS $0.71-$1.39 MORE SALEABLE PRODUCT PER BIRD. THE LONG-TERM RESEARCH GOAL IS TO REFINE AND OPTIMIZE A COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL BROILER ENRICHMENT TOOL THAT IMPROVES WELFARE AND PROVIDES PRODUCERS A POSITIVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE HAVE TWO AIMS (1) REFINE THE LASER ENRICHMENT TOOL USING OBJECTIVE DECISION BROILER WELFARE CRITERIA, AND (2) APPLY IT COMMERCIALLY TO DETERMINE WELFARE AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT.