2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Determine the impact of integrating poultry with ruminant grazing on animal and bird performance, with a long-term focus of reducing pathogens (including Salmonella and Campylobacter) and parasite loads in animals and birds. Also determine the impact of forages high in protein on bird performance and disease/pathogen resistance. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Birds will be housed in small portable shelters that follow ruminant grazing. Bird weight gain, feed efficiency, parasite and pathogen colonization will be determined. Impact of poultry grazing on ruminant parasite control will also be determined. 3.Progress Report: The project, funded through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, is a collaborative effort with the ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, AR, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, Louisiana State University, Appalachian State University, the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and farmer cooperators. Studies are being conducted to determine the impact of raising poultry with ruminants on animal and bird performance, livestock pathogens and parasites, benefits to pasture, and economics. In the past year research was conducted to determine the palatability of sericea lespedeza to poultry. Sericea lespedeza is a common perennial legume found in pastures across the southern USA that has been shown to be effective at controlling parasitic nematodes in small ruminants due to its condensed tannins content. Manuscript was prepared and accepted by the Journal of Applied Poultry Research.