Establishment of a Model to Evaluate the Effects of Antibiotic-Free Programs on Intestinal Development and Local Immune Response in the Small Intestine of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

In the United States, consumption of chicken has doubled in recent years, making it an important protein source for American families. Recently, the broiler industry has begun to shift away from the use of antibiotic growth promotors, which has introduced some challenges, such as enteric diseases, to broiler production. Broiler gastrointestinal health is an important area of study as the gastrointestinal tract can require significant amounts of amino acids and energy that can then not be directly utilized for muscle protein accretion. To begin studying gastrointestinal health and development, an experiment was conducted to establish a model to evaluate the effects of antibiotic-free programs on intestinal development and local immune response in the small intestine of broiler chickens.