Maharjan headshot

Pramir Maharjan 
Assistant Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
College of Agriculture

Contact Information: 
Office Location: 202F Farrell-Westbrook Complex
Phone(O): (615) 963-5823
Email: pmaharja@tnstate.edu

Research Areas: 
My research and extension roles at TSU cover broader areas of poultry production with a focus on poultry drinking water quality management and feed nutrient management aimed at improving flock health, performance, and yield characteristics. 
Specific research areas/interests include: 
- Amino acid and energy nutrition for optimal growth and performance
- Dietary effects on physiological nutrient turnover in tissue 
- Understanding physiological aspects of emerging muscle myopathies
- Feed additives evaluation in relation to feed nutrient digestibility and bird health
- Dietary non-starch polysaccharides digestion and gut health impacts
- Evaluation of water sanitation options 
- Biofilm mitigation strategies in poultry water systems
- Disease management practices for optimal flock health

Selected Publications: 
Maharjan, P., Martinez, D. A., Weil, J., Suesuttajit, N., Umberson, C., Mullenix, G., & Coon, C. N. 2021. Physiological growth trend of current meat broilers and dietary protein and energy management approaches for sustainable broiler production. Animal, 100284.

Maharjan, P., Beitia, A., Weil, J., Suesuttajit, N., Hilton, K., Caldas, J., & Coon, C. 2021. Woody breast myopathy broiler show age-dependent adaptive differential gene expression in Pectoralis major and altered in-vivo triglyceride kinetics in adipogenic tissues. Poultry science, 100(7), 101092.

Maharjan, P., Hilton, K. M., Mullenix, G., Weil, J., Beitia, A., Suesuttajit, N.,  & Coon, C. N. 2021. Effects of dietary energy levels on performance and carcass yield of 2 meat-type broiler lines housed in hot and cool ambient temperatures. Poultry science, 100(3), 100885.

Maharjan, P., Mullenix, G., Hilton, K., Weil, J., Beitia, A., Caldas, J., & Coon, C. 2021. Effects of dietary energy levels on Pectoralis major mixed muscle protein turnover and body composition in two broiler lines housed in different grow‐out environments. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 105(3), 535-548.

Lu, J., J. Weil, P. Maharjan, M. Manangi, S. Cerrate and C. Coon. 2021. The effect of feeding adequate or potentially deficient vitamin B6 or folic acid to breeders on methionine metabolism in 18d old chick embryos. Poultry Science. 100(4), 101008.

Maharjan, P., K. Hilton, J. Caldas, G. Mullenix, A. Kalinoski, V. Naranjo, and C. Coon. 2020. Effect of digestible amino acids to energy ratio on performance and yield of two broiler lines housed in different grow-out environmental temperatures. Poultry Science. 99(12), 6884-6898.

Maharjan, P., J. Weil, Beitia, A., J. Caldas, C. Owens, and C. Coon. 2020. Collagen protein and mixed muscle protein turnover in Pectoralis major in two broiler strains in relation to woody breast myopathy. Poultry Science. 99(10): 5055-5064. 

Maharjan, P., G. Mullenix, Beitia, A., J. Caldas, K. Hilton, J. Weil, and C. Coon. 2020. Effects of dietary amino acid levels and ambient temperature on mixed muscle protein turnover in Pectoralis major during finisher feeding period in two broiler lines. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 1–14. 

Zhang, B., J. Weil, A. Beita, P. Maharjan, K. Hilton, N. Suesuttajit, D. Martinez Patino Patr, C. N. Coon. 2020. Egg shell quality and bone status as affected by environmental temperature, Ca and non-phytate P intake, and in vitro limestone solubility in Single-Comb White Leghorn hens. International Journal of Poultry Science. 19(5): 219-231. 

Cao, T., J. Weil, P. Maharjan, L, Jianwei, and C. Coon. 2020. The diurnal changes of hepatic enzymes and metabolites of methionine metabolism in laying hens. International Journal of Poultry Science. 19(5): 210-218. 

Maharjan P. K. Hilton, J. Weil, N. Suesutajit, A. Beitia, C. Owens, and C. Coon. 2019. Characterizing woody breast myopathy in a meat broiler line by heat production, microbiota, and plasma metabolites. Frontiers of Veterinary Science, Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. Article 497. 

Maharjan, P., C. Owens, and C. Coon. 2019. In-vivo intramuscular collagen synthesis, muscle fiber growth and histomorphology of Pectoralis major of a fast-growing broiler strain Gallus gallus domesticus. Frontiers of Veterinary Science. 470.

Zhang, B., J. Weil, A. Guerra, P. Maharjan, K. Hilton, N. Suesuttajit, and C. Coon. 2019. The effect of feeding various limestone particle sizes, limestone solubility and calcium intake on bone status and shell quality of a commercial white layer strain from 18-65 weeks of age. International Journal of Poultry Science. 18(8): 372-378. 

Maharjan, P., K. Hilton, M. Mayorga, G. Mullenix, M. Schlumbohm, J. England, and C. Coon. 2018. Non-cellulosic polysaccharide (NCP) content in feed ingredients, and ileal and total tract NCP digestibility in 21 and 42 d-old broilers fed diets with and without composite enzymes. Poultry Science. 98 (9): 4048-4057. 

Manangi, M. K., P. Maharjan, and C. N. Coon. 2018. Calcium particle size effects on plasma, excreta, and urinary Ca and P changes in broiler breeder hens. Poultry Science. 97(8): 2798-2806. 

Manangi, M. K., P. Maharjan, and C. N. Coon. 2017. Effect of different concentrations of dietary P and Ca on plasma inorganic P and urinary P excretion using non-colostomized and colostomized broilers. Poultry Science. 97(2): 522-530. 

Maharjan, P., S. Dey, G. Huff, W. Zhang, G. K. Phillips, and S. Watkins. 2017. Effect of chlorine treatment on inhibition of E. coli serogroup O2 incorporation into 7-day-old biofilm on polyvinylchloride surface. Poultry Science. 96(8): 2862-2870. 

Maharjan, P., Huff, G., Zhang, W., and S. Watkins. 2017. Effects of chlorine and hydrogen peroxide sanitation in low bacterial content water on biofilm formation model of poultry brooding house waterlines. Poultry science. 96(7): 2145-2150. 

Maharjan, P., Cox, S., Gadde, U., Clark, F.D., Bramwell, K. and S. Watkins. 2016. Evaluation of chlorine dioxide-based product as a hatchery sanitizer. Poultry Science. 96(3):560-565.

Maharjan, P., Huff, G., Zhang, W., and S. Watkins. 2016. Biofilm growth on polyvinylchloride surface incubated in suboptimal microbial warm water and effect of sanitizers on biofilm removal post biofilm formation. Poultry Science. 96(1): 83-87.

Maharjan, P., Clark, T., Kuenzel, C., Foy, M.K., and S. Watkins. 2016. On farm monitoring of the impact of water system sanitation on microbial levels in broiler house water supplies. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 25(2): 266-271. 

Maharjan, P., T. Clark, M. Frank, B.B. Martins, M.K. Foy, and S. Watkins. 2015. Evaluating different hydrogen peroxide products for residual and efficacy over time. International Journal of Poultry Science. 14 (8): 506-510. 

Maharjan, P., S. Cox, T. Clark, and S. Watkins. 2015. In –vitro evaluation of AOP versus chemical based poultry water sanitizers for residual and efficacy over time. International Journal of Poultry Science. 14 (9): 506-510. 

Courses Previously Taught/Co-taught
Broiler Breeder Management
Avian Anatomy and Physiology 

Education: 
PhD, Poultry Science, University of Arkansas
MS, Poultry Science, University of Arkansas
BS, Veterinary Science, Tribhuvan University 

Date Joined Staff: January 2022