Influence of different protein sources in the broiler diet on the presence of Campylobacter spp. in excreta and caecal content.

The aim of the present study was to examine possible effects of a different protein supply on the presence of Campylobacter in excreta and caecal content of broiler chickens. Therefore, 220 one-day-old chickens were fed five different diets in the experimental period (day 8 onwards). In the control group (CON; n = 3 boxes), a soya bean-based industrially produced complete diet containing 5-10% whole wheat and coccidiostats was fed, whereas in the remaining groups, four own-made complete diets with four protein sources and combinations (4 × 2 boxes; soya bean meal-based diet = SBM; rapeseed meal-containing diet = RSM; haemoglobin meal-containing diet = HGP; algae-containing diet = ALG) were offered. During the 6-week trial period, data concerning performance parameters, excreta and litter characteristics and microbiological analysis of excreta and caecal content at dissection were collected. The qualitative bacteriological investigation was based on the EN ISO 10272-1:2006, taken from the official collection of analysis methods in accordance with § 64 LFBG. For quantitative bacteriological tests, a 10-fold dilution series was made followed by culture-based quantification methods on approved selective media in duplicate. Comparing the results of the final dissection (day 44/45), nearly all samples of animals receiving the own-made complete diet were Campylobacter positive in the caecal content, whereas only seven of fifteen samples were positive in the CON group. With regard to the CFU in the caecal content, the counts of Campylobacter were significantly lower for animals fed the commercial diet (2.47 ± 3.06 vs. 7.36 ± 0.66 log10  CFU/g). When only the positive animals were evaluated, significant differences were also found between the CON group and the total of the other groups (5.30 ± 2.08 vs. 7.54 ± 1.70 log10  CFU/g). Although significant differences were seen in the results, no final recommendation can be given how to create a diet to reduce an infection with Campylobacter.

Watering cattle (young bulls) with brackish water--a hazard due to its salt content?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experimental study was primarily to test the effects and reactions of cattle offered salty water as the only source of drinking water. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mineral balance studies were carried out on three bull, continuously fed a ration based on hay, hay cobs, barley, soybean meal and a vitamin/mineral supplement. The salt content of the drinking water varied between the trials (trials I/II/III: 0.10/5.00/10.0 g/l; town water supplemented by different amounts of an additive containing 95.4% sodium chloride and 4.6% potassium chloride). RESULTS: Rising salt concentration of the drinking water led to significantly higher sodium, potassium and chloride intake (sodium: trial I/II/III = 5.42/59.5/ 157 g/day; potassium: trials I/II/III = 108/117/121 g/day; chloride: trials I/II/III = 22.8/112/266 g/day) mainly caused by a significantly higher water intake (trials I/II/III: 21.8 ± 2.03/30.4 ± 3.08/41.5 ± 5.89 kg/day). Amounts of urine increased significantly (trials I/II/III: 3.99 ± 0.46/ 9.66 ± 1.34/20.2 ± 3.14 kg/day). The concentrations of minerals in the urine (sodium: trials I/II/III = 123/3729/6705 mg/kg; potassium: trials I/II/III = 17345/9996/ 5496 mg/kg; chloride: trials I/II/III = 2020/ 9672/11870 mg/kg) and faeces (sodium: trials I/II/III = 1299/6544/ 7653 mg/kg; potassium: trials I/II/III = 6343/3719/3490 mg/kg; chloride: trials I/II/III = 3851/4580/4693 mg/kg) also changed significantly over time. Serum values of sodium tended to decrease (trials I/II/III: 142/137/137 mmol/l) within the physiological range, whereas those of chloride increased (trials I/II/III: 91.5/95.6/97.5 mmol/l) at higher salt concentrations in drinking water. The haematocrit, pH-value as well as urea content in blood were not affected by the higher salt intake. In balance trial III (highest salt load: 10.0 g/l), sodium intake of the bulls reached 0.57 ± 0.03 g/kg BW (~22.1 ± 0.9 g sodium/kg dry matter feed). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An increase of salinity in drinking water up to 10 g/l--with otherwise harmless water quality--had no measurable negative effects on animal health in the investigation period and subsequent periods (total of 58 days with more than 5.00 g of salt per litre drinking water).

Outcome of an artificial coccidial infection in poults under the influence of floor heating.

Coccidiosis is one of the most prevalent diseases in poultry. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of floor heating when poults were artificially infected with Eimeria regarding the outcome of the infection and secondary effects on litter quality and health of the foot pad. Two trials were performed. In each trial, 4 groups of 2-wk-old turkeys were reared for a 4-wk period. All birds were fed ad libitum identical pelleted diets without any anticoccidial additive. The first 2 groups were housed on dry wood shavings, with and without floor heating; the other 2 groups were housed on wet wood shavings (35% moisture, achieved by adding water as required), with and without floor heating. Two birds only (primary seeder birds; the other 18 birds were nominated as secondary infected birds) in each of the 4 groups were experimentally infected orally with Eimeria adenoeides (~50,000 oocysts/bird). The number of oocysts eliminated via excreta was determined repeatedly. On d 42, each bird not only was scored macroscopically for coccidial lesions in the cecum but also oocyst counts were determined in the cecal contents. Finally, the foot pads were assessed weekly for external scoring and on d 42 of life for histopathological scoring. Although the counts of oocysts in seeder birds were almost identical (d 6 postinoculation), oocyst counts in excreta of secondary birds were markedly reduced in both trials when the poults were not exposed to wet litter. Moreover, in both trials using floor heating with exposure to wet litter resulted in a higher oocyst count in the excreta of secondary infected birds (3.72/3.92 in trials 1 and 2) on d 24 postinoculation compared with the other groups. Using floor heating resulted in significantly decreased foot pad dermatitis scores compared with groups housed without floor heating. In conclusion, the differences in oocyst counts indicate that the process of sporulation is affected by both the moisture and the temperature of the litter.

Effects of high electrolyte contents in the diet and using floor heating on development and severity of foot pad dermatitis in young turkeys.

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) is a very common disease affecting poultry and is mostly caused by bad litter condition. This study aimed to test the effects of poultry diets with normal levels of electrolytes compared with a surplus level of electrolytes with and without using floor heating. Eighty two-week-old ♀ turkey poults were reared over 3 weeks on wood shavings, divided randomly into four groups. Two groups were fed normal levels of electrolytes (1.60 g Na; 7.80 g K/kg diet), and the other two groups were fed surplus levels of electrolytes (3.10; 15.3 g/kg diet). In each dietary treatment, half of the birds were exposed to floor heating. Half of the birds in each group were exposed for 4 h/day to wet litter (35% water) in adjacent separate boxes. External assessment of foot pads was performed weekly. High dietary electrolytes increased the severity of FPD significantly (3.65 ± 1.03). Floor heating is likely to be highly effective in significantly reducing the severity of FPD (2.36 ± 0.588). Despite forced water intake, the litter became drier when floor heating was in use. Combining low Na and K levels with a floor heating system reduced the scores of FPD by approximately 60%, compared with high electrolyte levels without floor heating. Therefore, both dietary electrolyte levels and floor heating markedly affected FPD via litter moisture.

Foot-pad dermatitis and experimentally induced coccidiosis in young turkeys fed a diet without anticoccidia.

Foot-pad dermatitis (FPD) is a widespread challenge to turkey production. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of using floor heating and exposure to litter with critical moisture content (35%) under experimental infection with Eimeria. adenoeides on the severity of FPD in turkeys. Two trials were done; in each trial, 4 groups of 2-wk-old female turkeys were reared over 4 wk. At the start of the experiment (d 14), each bird had normal foot pads. All birds were fed ad libitum on identical pelleted diets without any anticoccidial additive. The first 2 groups were kept on dry wood shavings with or without floor heating; the other 2 groups were housed on wet wood shavings of 35% moisture with or without floor heating. Two birds in each of the 4 groups were experimentally infected with E. adenoeides via crop intubation (~50,000 oocysts/bird). Foot pads were assessed weekly for external scoring and at d 42 of life for histopathological scoring. The number of oocysts eliminated via excreta was determined. In both trials, using floor heating resulted in significantly decreased FPD scores (2.06 ± 0.735; 1.47 ± 0.734, trials 1 and 2, respectively) compared with groups housed without floor heating (3.88 ± 0.812; 2.73 ± 1.25, trials 1 and 2, respectively). Birds continuously exposed to wet litter (35% moisture) showed significantly increased FPD scores (3.41 ± 1.23; 2.69 ± 1.34, trials 1 and 2, respectively) compared with the group not exposed to wet litter (2.53 ± 1.00; 1.53 ± 0.683, trials 1 and 2, respectively). The coccidial infection in both trials resulted in markedly lowered DM contents of excreta (14.8 and 15.1%, trials 1 and 2, respectively) and litter (58.0 and 57.6%, trials 1 and 2, respectively) in the groups exposed to wet litter without using floor heating. In both trials, using floor heating resulted in the highest mean DM content of litter (85.1 and 85.0%, trials 1 and 2, respectively) and the highest BW (2,693 and 2,559 g, trials 1 and 2, respectively). The results suggest that induced diarrhea caused by coccidial infection led to poor litter quality, and hence, increased the severity of FPD, which can be overcome by using floor heating.

Effects of floor heating and litter quality on the development and severity of foot pad dermatitis in young turkeys.

Actions concerning animal health in turkey production are coming more and more to the fore. Litter quality has a great impact on the bird's health and welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of using floor heating, different litter materials, and exposure to litter with a "critical moisture content" of 35% for 16 or 24 hr/day on the severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD), a widespread disease in fattening turkeys. Four groups of 2-wk-old female turkeys, with 20 birds in each, were reared during 3 wk. All turkeys were fed a commercial pellet diet ad libitum. The first two groups were kept on wood shavings (35% moisture) without and with floor heating. The other two groups were housed on lignocellulose (Soft Cell) of 35% moisture without and with floor heating. In each group, half of the birds were housed for 8 hr/day in adjacent separate boxes where the litter was kept clean and dry throughout the experimental period. Foot pads were assessed weekly for external and at day 35 for histopathologic scoring (scores: 0 = healthy; 7 = ulcer). At day 14 each bird had normal and healthy foot pads. The results indicate that using floor heating resulted in significantly lower FPD scores (0.8 +/- 0.2) compared to groups without floor heating (2.0 +/- 0.8). Using lignocellulose as a litter material resulted in significantly lower histopathologic FPD scores (1.4 +/- 0.7) compared with wood shavings (1.7 +/- 0.8). In all birds housed on dry litter for 8 hr/day, significantly lower FPD scores were found compared to birds housed on wet litter for 24 hr. In conclusion, using floor heating, even with wet litter (35% moisture), independent of the litter type, resulted in reduced severity of FPD compared to those birds housed in pens without using floor heating. Additionally, using lignocellulose as a litter material resulted in lower FPD compared with wood shavings. Keeping litter dry and "warm" could be achieved by using floor heating, which is considered a practical step to enhance animal health and welfare.

Serodiversity and serological as well as cultural distribution of Salmonella on farms and in abattoirs in Lower Saxony, Germany.

In this study fattening pigs were monitored on farms and in the abattoir for Salmonella prevalence. The samples with the highest prevalence at slaughter should be identified with special attention to the distribution of Salmonella serovars on farms in comparison to those in slaughtered pigs. Another aim was to monitor whether high serological antibody responses in pigs are in accordance with the specific Salmonella serovars in tissues. From 3418 farm faecal samples, 191 were Salmonella positive (5.58%), whereas from slaughtered pigs 330 out of 2494 analysed samples were Salmonella positive (13.2%) with the highest prevalence in the caecal content (124/499=24.9%). The chi-square test for homogeneity between the serovars found on farms and in the different types of samples at slaughter was in most cases negative (p<0.05). Exceptions were the similar serovars found in samples taken from farm 1 and in the corresponding ileocaecal lymph nodes extracted at slaughter (p=0.1188); in samples taken from farm 2 and the corresponding tonsils (p=0.1479) and in samples taken from farm 3 and the corresponding caecal content (p=0.3230) and ileocaecal lymph nodes (p=0.1921), respectively. The frequency distribution in different samples was significantly different in most cases. Three exceptions, the distribution between tonsils and caecal content among antibody titre in meat juice (cut off 40) and cultural detection of Salmonella spp. in ileocaecal lymph nodes, as well as between meat juice samples (cut off 20) and caecal content did not differ significantly. The Kappa indices only showed signs of weak concordance according to positive test results (Kappa ≤ 0.4) between different sample types on an animal basis. Pigs harbouring S. Typhimurium 1,4,12:i:1,2; DT104L in tonsils or S. Typhimurium 1,4,12:i:1,2 DT 104B low in caecal content or ileocaecal lymph nodes had the highest optical densities in meat juice. Apart from the different Salmonella prevalences between farms and slaughterhouses and in most cases non-existing concordance in Salmonella serovar distribution on farms and at slaughter, also in future farm intervention strategies to control Salmonella in the food chain are not dispensable. This is because once introduced into a slaughterhouse via swine the serovars seem to maintain the resident slaughterhouse flora and add to it.

Effects of feed particle size at dietary presence of added organic acids on caecal parameters and the prevalence of Salmonella in fattening pigs on farm and at slaughter.

In a field study with fattening pigs, effects of feed particle size at the dietary presence of organic acids on Salmonella prevalence were measured. On two farms (f1/f2), each holding ∼800 pigs, diets based on finely ground (control) or coarsely ground ingredients (experiment) were fed as crumbs. On f1 both control and experimental grower and finisher diets contained identical concentrations of formic and propionic acid (0.4% and 0.2% respectively). On f2 only finisher diet of the experimental group contained 1.2% potassium diformate. At the start of the fattening period no statistical differences were measured between Salmonella prevalence in animals fed control and experimental diets on both farms. At slaughter Salmonella prevalence in caecal contents was lower (p < 0.05) on f1 in animals fed the experimental diet. Furthermore, the number of seronegative meat juice samples taken from these animals [optical density (OD) <10] was higher (p < 0.001); seropositive as well as distinct seropositive samples (OD ≥20 and ≥40 respectively) were less frequent (p < 0.01) compared to samples from animals fed the control diet. Feeding the experimental diet on f2 resulted in a lower Salmonella detection rate in faeces before slaughter (p < 0.01). Salmonella prevalence was lower in caecal content at slaughter for pigs fed the experimental diet compared to those fed control diet (p < 0.0001). The number of distinct seropositive meat juice samples (OD ≥40) was lower (p < 0.01) for pigs fed the experimental than for those fed the control diet. In comparison to pigs in the control group, starch concentrations in the caecal content from pigs in the experimental groups on both farms were higher (p < 0.05) and the pH values lower (p < 0.05). Propionate (p < 0.0001) and butyrate (p < 0.01) concentrations were higher in the caecal content taken from pigs in the experimental group on f2.