Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Early feeding and early life housing conditions influence the response towards a noninfectious lung challenge in
K Simon1, G de Vries Reilingh2, J E Bolhuis2
1Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands Kristina.Simon@wur.nl.
Insights
Early broiler chick feeding strategies and housing impact immune responses. Delayed feed access and floor housing led to higher antibody titers but also increased sickness and reduced performance, suggesting greater sensitivity to immune challenges.
Area of Science:
- Poultry Science
- Immunology
- Animal Husbandry
Background:
- Early life conditions significantly influence immune system development in broiler chickens.
- Factors such as post-hatch (PH) feed/water availability and housing systems are critical for immune maturation.
- Understanding these early influences is key to optimizing disease resistance and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of early feeding strategies and housing systems on broiler chick immune reactivity.
- To assess the specific antibody response to an immune challenge in relation to these early life conditions.
- To determine how early life stress impacts broiler performance and disease sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Broiler chicks were subjected to immediate or delayed (72 h) access to feed and water post-hatch (PH).
- Chicks were reared in either floor pens or cage systems.
- At 4 weeks of age, an intra-tracheal challenge with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/Human Serum Albumin (HUSA) or placebo was administered, followed by antibody titer measurements.
Main Results:
- Chicks housed on the floor with delayed feed access PH exhibited the highest antibody titers against Human Serum Albumin (HUSA).
- These same chicks demonstrated the most severe sickness response and poorest performance post-challenge.
- Delayed feed access post-hatch may increase broiler sensitivity to environments with high antigenic load.
Conclusions:
- Early life feeding strategies and housing conditions significantly modulate a broiler chick's immune response to later challenges.
- These factors are crucial for balancing disease resistance and overall performance in poultry production.
- Consideration of early life management is essential for enhancing poultry health and productivity.
Abstract:
Early life conditions such as feed and water availability immediately post hatch (PH) and housing conditions may influence immune development and therefore immune reactivity later in life. The current study addressed the consequences of a combination of these 2 early life conditions for immune reactivity, i.e., the specific antibody response towards a non-infectious lung challenge. Broiler chicks received feed and water either immediately p.h. or with a 72 h delay and were either reared in a floor or a cage system. At 4 weeks of age, chicks received either an intra-tracheally administered Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/Human Serum Albumin (HUSA) challenge or a placebo, and antibody titers were measured up to day 14 after administration of the challenge. Chicks housed on the floor and which had a delayed access to feed p.h. showed the highest antibody titers against HuSA. These chicks also showed the strongest sickness response and poorest performance in response to the challenge, indicating that chicks with delayed access to feed might be more sensitive to an environment with higher antigenic pressure. In conclusion, results from the present study show that early life feeding strategy and housing conditions influence a chick's response to an immune challenge later in life. These 2 early life factors should therefore be taken into account when striving for a balance between disease resistance and performance in poultry.
More Related Videos
12:27The Utilization of Oropharyngeal Intratracheal PAMP Administration and Bronchoalveolar Lavage to Evaluate the Host Immune Response in Mice
Published on: April 2, 2014
05:51Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies
Published on: June 18, 2020