Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA’s ARS) are making progress in their efforts to give hens the ability to pass some Salmonellaimmunity along to their broiler chicks—an approach the researchers are calling “transgenerational protection.” The work is being conducted by the ARS Food and Feed Safety Research unit, which focuses on preharvest food safety interventions to reduce the microbial load in live chicken, before entering the processing plant.
The scientists are exploring whether it is possible to naturally enhance the immune response of broiler breeder hens to Salmonella, and if an improved immunity to Salmonella would be transferred to the hens’ offspring.