Linda Caston Position/Title: Research Associate email: castonl@uoguelph.ca Phone: 519 824-4120 ext. 58367 Office: ANNU 256A Research Gate

Worked as Research Assistant/Associate with Dr. Steve Leeson from 1984 to 2011. Responsible for all aspects of new and ongoing research projects primarily in the area of poultry (monogastric) nutrition with laying hens and broiler chickens. We were instrumental in pioneering the development of omega-3 fatty acid enriched eggs at this University resulting in research and publication of a study aimed at determining the effect of feeding flax seed supplemented diets to laying hens and quantifying the changes in yolk fatty acid profiles (Caston and Leeson, 1990). Research continued in terms of the effect of omega-3 FA enriched eggs on human blood parameters, consumer acceptability of ‘designer eggs’; hen health, performance and egg quality and further continued utilizing other unique dietary ingredients and supplementation.  More than 50 publications in refereed scientific journals.   Currently working as Research Associate with Dr. Tina Widowski (2011 to present), in the area of Poultry Welfare and Behaviour. We are investigating many aspects of hen welfare and behaviour from rearing to production within the new aviary and enriched caging systems.