POULTRY breeders could soon have access to a genetic test which identifies
chickens that are resistant to Salmonella bacteria.
Nat Bumstead and his colleagues at Britain鈥檚 Institute for Animal Health in
Compton, Berkshire, discovered a gene linked to resistance by analysing DNA from
crosses between resistant and susceptible chickens. The institute is now
developing a test for the gene which would enable chicken breeders to supply
farmers with entire flocks that are resistant to Salmonella, limiting
contamination of eggs and carcasses.
鈥淚t means we can begin to reduce the load of Salmonella that comes
off the farm in the first place,鈥� says a spokesman for the institute.
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