Effect of reused litter on early cecal microbiota succession and the immune cells distribution in layer chickens

Nimra Khalid, Shuja Majeed, Bikas Raj Shah and Ali Nazmi

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate early immune development and gut microbiome establishment in layer chicks reared on reused or fresh litter. A total of 160 newly hatched female Hy-Line W80 layer were housed on fresh or used litter (n = 80/group). Body weight was recorded weekly, ceca, ileum and spleen samples were collected at days 7 and 35 for gut microbiome analysis and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) study. Results showed that layer chicks reared on fresh litter exhibited significantly higher body weight compared with layer chicks reared on used litter from day 14 to day 35 (P

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0355745

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0355745

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