Comprehensive Hygiene Program to Control Salmonella in Poultry

The effective cleaning and disinfection of broiler houses at the end of a production round are crucial for reducing infection pressures on poultry farms and preventing food-borne zoonoses and endemic animal diseases. Recent studies illustrate that acidifying drinking water with organic acids can effectively reduce Salmonella transmission among broiler chickens.

Study Overview

This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of cleaning and disinfection of pullet and breeder houses, alongside water hygiene, on Salmonella prevalence and concentration in commercial broiler production facilities.

Materials and Methods

Two pullet flocks, each consisting of 18,000 birds, were divided into a control group and a treatment group within two commercial pullet houses. Boot swabs were collected at 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks of age. At 22 weeks, pullets were moved to two commercial breeder houses, again divided into control and treatment groups, where boot swabs, drag swabs, litter, and environmental samples were collected at 30, 34, 38, and 42 weeks of age.

A total of 56,000 chicks were raised in two broiler houses for 49 days, with the same control and treatment design. The trial was conducted in an industrial farm located in the southeastern United States.

Samples from pullet houses underwent Salmonella quantification using a miniature 4-tube most probable number (mMPN), with detection limits of 2.69 log MPN/boot swab, 2.09 log MPN/drag swab, and 1.39 log MPN/g of litter.

Results: Pullet and Breeder Phases

An observable reduction of Salmonella populations occurred in both control (from 2.87 to 1.58 log MPN/boot swab) and treatment (2.83 log MPN/boot swab to negative) flocks from 4 to 20 weeks of pullet age. In breeder houses, Salmonella prevalence was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) at 79.2% in the control group, compared to only 4.2% in the treatment group.

Results: Processing Plant

At the processing plant, Salmonella prevalence before pre-chiller was significantly higher (100%, p ≤ 0.05) in the control group compared to 33% in the treatment group.

Conclusion

The study strongly indicates that a rigorous cleaning and disinfection regimen, combined with stringent water hygiene practices, can effectively control Salmonella. During the rearing phase, the implemented hygiene program minimized Salmonella concentration, yielding negative results after 12 weeks, which persisted through the remainder of the rearing phase.

Moreover, in the production phase, only one positive Salmonella sample was detected out of 24 taken during processing, demonstrating that cumulative hygiene practices have a significant impact on Salmonella prevalence in the broader production cycle.

A holistic approach to poultry production that emphasizes both surface and water hygiene is essential to create an environment that is free from Salmonella, ultimately enhancing food safety and animal health.

* This study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Georgia, Athens, United States.
* References available upon request.