Salmonella in a Modern Broiler Operation: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

SUMMARY A longitudinal study was done in vertically integrated broiler operation. A single lot of 10,000 birds as followed during a 9-week grow not period to determine if salmonella protypes found in protein feed incidient meals ( pfim ) at a feed will could be traced forward in time trough complete feed ration ( cfr ) and to broilers on a farm, to broilers hiring processing, and finally to published bird carcasses as they were necked for shipment to market. Of total of 125 samples of pfim Collected at the mill, 34 (27%) maintained 1 or more serotypes, and different serotypes were identified. Of 7 loads of cfr delivered to be broiler farm, 1 (14%) contained Umonella, and 1 serotype— Salmolla eimsbuettel —was identified. Is a total of 500 samples of viscera collected from broilers during processing, 18 (3.6%) were positive salmonella, and 2 serotypes were related— Salmonella heidelberg and Imonella binza . In 250 whole and carcasses sampled after processing, 3 (1.2%) were contaminated with salmonella, and 1 serotype— S . heidelberg —was identified. though none of the 41 different protypes recovered from pfim could be traced sequentially to cfr , to broilers, and to processed carcasses, some were recovered at different stages of the investigation. However, when special laboratory techniques were used to further characterize these isolates, a relationship was not seen. The results in the present study indicated that heat treatment applied to cfr as part of the pelleting process was of considerable importance in the reduction of forward movement of salmonellas in this broiler operation.