March 27, 2014

Dutch research aims to breed poultry with improved natural resistance

Wageningen UR researcher Tom Berghof made a project which aims to improve poultry health by selective breeding for natural antibodies using DNA markers.

"Thanks to DNA markers we will in future be capable of selecting animals with high levels of natural antibodies. Future research will help to determine whether or not this will lead to the breeding of healthier poultry," Berghof said.

Enhancing disease resistance, alongside balanced increase of production and efficiency are important goals in poultry breeding. Selection of poultry with high levels of natural antibodies, could increase animal welfare, reduce antibiotic usage and increase profit.

An increased level of antibodies lowers the risk of mortality of layers by 20%. It is considered that selection of the best candidate birds for the breeding programme will improve performance and health.

This is to be monitored in a field test over five years, Berghof said. "Hopefully we can identify the DNA markers within 1.5 years research and thereafter test the theory in field conditions. Eventually, we will be able to include this approach in the breeding programmes for layers and investigate further the effects on poultry health and welfare."

It is hoped that this will provide the poultry industry with a new tool to implement genomic selection and develop breeding strategies for improving poultry health.