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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291886
Title: Impact of Skip-a-Day and Every-Day Feeding Programs on the Colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in Broiler Breeder Pullets

Author
item WILSON, KIM - University Of Georgia
item MCLENDON, BEVERLY - University Of Georgia
item Bourassa, Dianna
item MONTIEL, ENRIQUE - University Of Georgia
item WILSON, JEANNA - University Of Georgia
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2013
Publication Date: 7/21/2013
Citation: Wilson, K.M., Mclendon, B.L., Bourassa, D.V., Montiel, E.R., Wilson, J.L., Cox Jr, N.A., Buhr, R.J. 2013. Impact of Skip-a-Day and Every-Day Feeding Programs on the Colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in Broiler Breeder Pullets [abstract]. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 92:(E-Suppl.1)13.p.4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Feed restriction during pullet rearing is required to maintain flock uniformity, limit body weight gain, and optimize broiler breeder reproductive fitness. The impact of restrictive feeding programs on Salmonella colonization after environmental challenge was investigated for broiler breeder pullets in an experimental rearing facility at the University of Georgia. Pullets (135 chicks/pen) were placed on litter into the 3 feeding program rooms, each room containing duplicate pens. The feeding programs were as follows: 1) Skip-a-day in trough feeders (SAD); 2) Every-day in trough feeders (EDT); 3) Every-day on the litter (EDL). On day 1, an additional group of hatchmate chicks were gavaged with 4.0 x 10^4 cells of a nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium. The ceca from these seeder chicks (n=10/wk) were sampled at 4 and 5 wk to determine Salmonella colonization. All were positive, and at 5 wk, 5 Salmonella-seeder pullets were commingled into each pen. At 7 and 11 wk, stepped-on drag swab sampling of the litter was conducted and confirmed persistence of Salmonella. At 8 and 12 wk, ceca were sampled from 10 pullet penmates/pen and 2 composite spleen samples (5 spleens per composite) were collected/pen prior to feeding. At 12 wk, cloacal swabs were also taken from all pullets sampled and an additional day of collection occurred for SAD (off feed day). Salmonella prevalence for ceca from SAD pullets was significantly (P<0.05) higher at both 8 wk (70% combined direct and enriched culture) and at 12 wk (40% positive) for both on and off feed sample days. EDT fed pullets had 40% Salmonella-positive ceca at 8 wk and only 5% at 12 wk. EDL fed pullets had 30% Salmonella-positive ceca at 8 wk and 5% at 12 wk. Spleens were positive in all treatments at 8 wk, only SAD at 12 wk, and the cloacal swabs only 2/80 (2.5%) were Salmonella-positive and neither appeared associated with ceca results. These results suggest that feeding broiler breeder pullets SAD may contribute to a persistently higher Salmonella ceca colonization after environmental challenge.