Source: MEATINGPLACE, 3/21/18


Researchers at the Western University of Health Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service have completed a study that investigates whether serial transfers of intestinal material from older chickens can generate an effective source of inoculum to improve the growth and pathogen resistance of young chicks. 

The findings may provide new insight into developing improved probiotic products, including poultry feed additives.

In the study, researchers monitored changes in the poultry gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome, or the population of microbes living in the intestinal tract, following serial transfer of intestinal material from two-week-old birds to newly hatched chicks. The resulting inoculum was found to be stable and improved both the growth and resistance to challenge with Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enteriditis.

In an industry summary of the research, the scientists noted one surprising result: Chicks inoculated with a microbial community from used commercial poultry litter had body weight gains and pathogen resistance scores that were as good or better than chicks inoculated with material serially-transferred through multiple generations of birds.

In an industry summary, the researchers noted that they will use the data to help build a library of bacterial strains that may have future value as defined probiotic feed additives.

An industry summary of the research, funded by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation, is available online.

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