August 24, 2021

USPOULTRY: Researchers identify contribution of broiler genetics on gut health when faced with salmonella typhimurium

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have announced on August 23 the completion of a funded research project at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, the United States, in which researchers identified the contribution of broiler genetics on gut health and immune response when challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium.

The research was made possible in part by an endowing foundation gift from Ingram Farms and is part of the association's comprehensive research programme encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

Called "Project #714: Identifying the Contribution of Broiler Genetics on Gut Health and Immune Response When Challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium", the project is conducted by Dr. Shawna Weimer.

Dr. Weimer and her team at the University of Maryland recently completed a research project that evaluated the differences in immune response, gut morphology and microbiome and behavior of fast- and slow-growing broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium.

Overall findings showed that breed had a much stronger effect than salmonella challenge, indicating that meaningful genotypic and phenotypic differences exist between fast- and slow-growing broiler body weight, immune response, gut morphology and microbial communities and behavior when challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium.

- USPOULTRY