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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366323
Research Project: Identification of the Ecological Niches and Development of Intervention Strategies to Reduce Pathogenic Foodborne Pathogens in Poultry

Location: Food and Feed Safety Research

Title: Influential factors on the composition of the conventionally raised broiler gastrointestinal microbiomes

Author
item Feye, Kristina
item BAXTER, MIKAYLA - University Of Arkansas
item TELLEZ-ISAIAS, GUILLERMO - University Of Arkansas
item Kogut, Michael - Mike
item RICKE, STEVEN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2019
Publication Date: 2/1/2020
Citation: Feye, K.M., Baxter, M.F., Tellez-Isaias, G., Kogut, M.H., Ricke, S.C. 2020. Influential factors on the composition of the conventionally raised broiler gastrointestinal microbiomes. Poultry Science. 99(2):653-659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.12.013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.12.013

Interpretive Summary: Young chicks have millions and millions of good germs growing in their guts that provide nutrients and protection from bad germs. However, the good germs are very different in different places where the chicks grow. For example, chicks that grow in Texas have different gut germs than those that grow in Georgia. Scientists believe that this is due to the environment where the chicks live. This paper looks at the different environments where chicks grow and show that yes, the conditions under which the chicks grow have an effect on the good and bad germs that live in the gut. These conditions can have an effect on the ability of the chicks to grow well and remain healthy.

Technical Abstract: The microbiome has entered the vernacular of the consumer as well as the broiler chicken and is therefore becoming increasingly important for producers to understand. The microbiome is, by definition, compositional and relates to how the microbiological organisms within the gut fill that ecological niche. It is diverse and flexible, and data acquired demands a greater understanding of the host-microbiome axes, as well as advanced bioinformatics and ecology. There are numerous populations that define the microbiome; however, there are even more effects that can influence its composition. As management practices vary between producers, documenting these influences is an important component of beginning to understand the microbiome. This review targets the production audience and concatenates the currently understood compositional ecology of the broiler GIT microbiome as well as its influences.