COMPARISON OF GUT AND LUNG MICROBIOMES OF HENS RAISED IN CONVENTIONAL AND CAGE-FREE HOUSES TO DETERMINE DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY

Food production must increase to meet demands for animal protein, for which poultry is projected to increase the most. The chicken egg industry is transitioning from conventional to cage-free production systems. However, challenges exist in cage-free systems e.g., increased disease and reduced production. In animals, the microbiota affects host health, production, and even behavior. A balanced host microbial community is crucial to maximizing health, welfare, and performance of food-producing animals, including poultry. Because chicken lungs and gut are often a primary barrier between pathogen and host, factors that affect the microbiota in these locations may influence disease resistance and productivity. The primary objectives of this study were to characterize the lung and gut microbiome of hens raised in conventional and cage-free environments.