Pasture vs. Coop: Biomarker Insights into Free-Range and Conventional Broilers

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Immunology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Rearing systems significantly impact broiler health and productivity.
• Identifying biomarkers can differentiate between free-range and conventional broiler production.
• Novel diagnostic tools are needed for the poultry industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate blood parameters as biomarkers for distinguishing free-range Sasso broilers from conventional Ross 308 broilers.
• To assess immune function (IgM Natural Antibodies - NAbs) and tissue stress (creatine phosphokinase - CPK) as differentiating markers.
• To explore the potential of these biomarkers for improving animal welfare and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Serum IgM-NAbs targeting actin and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were measured.
• Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and Aspartate Aminotransferase levels were quantified.
• Standard methodologies were applied to 300 broilers (150 per group) from industrial rearing systems.

Main Results:

• Sasso broilers exhibited significantly higher IgM-NAb levels compared to Ross 308 broilers (p < 0.001).
• Ross 308 broilers showed significantly higher CPK and Aspartate Aminotransferase levels than Sasso broilers (p < 0.001).
• A combination of anti-LPS IgM-NAbs and CPK achieved 90% sensitivity and 84% specificity in differentiating the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Combined evaluation of IgM-NAbs and CPK effectively discriminates between conventional and free-range broiler types.
• These blood biomarkers present a promising, cost-effective, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool for the poultry industry.
• This approach has potential applications for enhancing broiler health, welfare, and productivity assessments.