Comparison of Disease Resistance Among Heritage Chicken Breeds: Final Report

This final report summarizes a BIOAg-funded project evaluating disease resistance among heritage chicken breeds used in organic and open-environment poultry systems. Researchers challenged seven breeds with Eimeria parasites and Campylobacter jejuni bacteria to assess differences in infection severity and susceptibility. All breeds became infected with Eimeria, but levels of intestinal tissue damage varied significantly, indicating differences in resilience. Susceptibility to C. jejuni also differed, with only certain breeds showing notable infection rates. These results demonstrate that heritage breeds vary in both resistance and response to common pathogens. The findings suggest that breed selection could serve as a practical disease management strategy for organic producers, where exposure to pathogens is high and treatment options are limited. This work provides a foundation for future research on disease resistance, co-infections, and economic performance across poultry breeds.