PARTNERSHIP: USING GENOMICS AND INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL PROTECTIVE FACTORS TO COMBAT ECTOPARASITIC MITES AND IMPROVE LAYING HEN WELFARE

Individual laying hens differ in their susceptibility and resistance to infestation with Northern fowl mites, which are the most common ectoparasite of the commercial egg industry. The overarching goal of this project is to develop the knowledge and tools that can be used to select and breed for hens that are resistant to these ectoparasitic mites. Our supporting objectives are to identify individual hen characteristics that are associated with susceptibility and resistance to Northern fowl mite infestation and the effects of infestation susceptibility on hen productivity and welfare. Another objective is to identify the genomic background of novel traits associated with resistance to Northern fowl mites.