Intestinal integrity and the impact of losing it

Genetic selection for resistance to disease with limited assistance from pharmacological and biological products is of increasing importance as is control of immunosuppressive diseases. Producers should not underestimate the potential economic harm enteric diseases can bring. Intestinal integrity may be challenged by a host of enemies and these infections interfere with intestinal integrity or weaken the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, which serves as a major disease-defence mechanism in the bird. The results can be devastating and costly.

This article can also be found at World Poultry Volume 17 number 7. To view the article online simply click on the link below.

Keywords: nutrition, diet, health, genetics, breeding, resistance, disease