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

Abstract

With the rising demand for meat, poultry farming often uses fast-growing chickens in intensive systems. However, free-range systems with slower-growing chickens present a healthier and more sustainable alternative. Our study investigated whether specific blood markers could help differentiate broilers reared in these two systems by examining blood samples from 300 chickens: free-range, slow-growing Sasso broilers, and conventionally raised, fast-growing Ross 308 broilers. The results show that Sasso broilers have higher levels of natural immunity markers (IgM anti-LPS antibodies) and lower levels of tissue-related biochemical markers (creatine phosphokinase: CPK), compared to Ross 308 broilers. By combining these two key markers, we were able to distinguish the two types of broilers with higher accuracy. This method could have important applications in the poultry industry, helping to verify farming methods and improve overall production standards.