Untangling the importance of poultry associated microbiomes for food security

Through understanding the faecobiome, we gained an insight to GIT microbial members applied to broilers reared using differing early life management systems. We highlight that broilers reared with immediate access to feed and water presented a rapid ‘kick start’ in microbiome development, with overall limited long-term impacts on microbiome composition or production. The final experimental chapter of this thesis explores the broiler GIT microbiome across life stages in broilers sourced with historically divergent productivity.

Productivity was insignificant between groups, as communities themselves were strongly influenced by age as a factor than farm origin. Furthermore, key members of the GIT microbiome had been identified, likewise, potential microbiome establishment from the egg to chick, and into adulthood.<br><br>Overall, this thesis presents the chicken GIT microbiome under various conditions, emphasising the need for better understanding to enhance broiler production efficiency amongst the ever-rising demand as a protein source.<br>