Roadmap for Microbiota optimisation

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Investigating the role of environmental microbiota (i.e., poultry litter/hatchery) on animal performance and health.
Impact of alternatives on the interaction of animal microbiota and environmental microbiota.

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

Developing an understanding of niche ecology.
Defining the temporal microbiota changes.
Linking the animal microbial ecosystem with the environment.
Global climate change and microbiome survival in farm settings (e.g. in manure).

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

Defining the gut microbiome of animals on farm (not faecal microbiome).
Characterise microbiota in experimental and productive environments.
Define the role of alternatives products/strategies in surrounding environmental microbiota.
Study mother hen/egg shell/ hatchery impact on adult microbiome.

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Existing knowledge including successes and failures