Improving the Gut Health and Nutrient Capture of Broiler Chickens through Selection for Innate Immune Function

<OL> <LI> Provide a bridge between conventional positional (QTL) and physiological candidate gene approaches to identify genes controlling variation in innate immune responses. <LI> Define the extent of genetic variability in loci that influence the innate immune response of the chicken and relate this to resistance/susceptibility to Salmonella and Campylobacter, and also the impact of these variations on nutrient capture. <LI> Determine the relevance in commercial broiler populations of genetic variation in immune response found in inbred research lines. <LI> Provide new opportunities for selective breeding of commercial broilers for improved innate resistance to enteric disease and hence improved nutrient capture and food safety.