Evaluating the impact of gypsum as a novel bedding material on broiler performance, foot pad health, and fear response.

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is a byproduct of the coal-fired power plant process commonly used to remove sulfur dioxide emissions from the flue gas. FGD gypsum has numerous industrial, agricultural, and environmental applications. This study aimed to explore a novel approach involving the use of FGD gypsum combined with different litter treatments as bedding for broiler production. It focused on performance metrics, including adjusted feed conversion ratio (AFCR) and average body weight (BW), foot pad dermatitis (FPD), and fear response over 5 consecutive flocks. A total of 1,800 one-day-old Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to 24 pens (75 birds/pen), divided into 6 treatment groups (4 pens/treatment), with 5 replications and raised until 42 d old (d). Treatments were gypsum that was decaked (D), rotovated (E), and rotovated then windrowed (F) between flocks. Control treatments using pine shavings were decaked (A), rotovated (B), and windrowed postrotovating (C). AFCR, average BW, and mortality were used as a measure of production. Foot pad dermatitis scores were taken on d42 using a scale of 0 (absence), 1 (mild), and 2 (severe). Response to observer and human approach test were used to measure fear response. Data were analyzed as a 2-way ANOVA (Proc Glimmix) for the main effects of bedding type and litter treatment. Means were identified using Tukey's HSD. No effect of bedding type or litter treatment was found for AFCR, BW, or mortality. FPD scores 2 and 1, were higher with pine shavings than gypsum (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). While FPD scores 0 were higher for gypsum than the pine shaving (P = 0.01). No difference in fear response was found among birds raised on any of the gypsum litter treatments and any of the pine shaving litter treatments. Overall, the use of gypsum as bedding results in equivalent production and fear response to pine shavings, while increasing FPD quality when compared to pine shaving.

In vitro Effect of Photoactive Compounds Curcumin and Chlorophyllin Against Single Strains of Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Salmonella and Campylobacter are two of the most common foodborne pathogens associated with poultry meat. Regulatory restrictions and consumer concerns have increased the interest for plant-derived antimicrobials and emerging novel technologies. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of photoactive compounds curcumin (CUR) and chlorophyllin (CH) followed by activating light exposure for the reduction of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) was also evaluated as a poultry industry standard antimicrobial processing aid. CUR and CH were evaluated in 96-well plates at concentrations of 100, 500, and 1,000 ppm, along with PAA at 100, 200, and 300 ppm, or distilled water (DW). Each well was inoculated with 105 CFU/mL of Salmonella Typhimurium or Campylobacter jejuni, and plates were exposed to activating light (430 nm) for 0 or 5 min. No detectable reductions were observed for Salmonella or Campylobacter when treated with CUR, CH, or 100 ppm PAA. However, when Salmonella was treated with 200 ppm PAA, counts were reduced from 4.57 to 2.52 log10 CFU/mL. When Salmonella was treated with 300 ppm PAA, counts were reduced to below detectable levels (5 CFU/mL). Campylobacter was reduced from 4.67 to 2.82 log10 CFU/mL when treated with 200 ppm PAA. However, no further reductions were observed when Campylobacter was treated with 300 ppm PAA (2.50 log10 CFU/mL). These results indicate that CUR and CH were not effective as antimicrobials under the evaluated conditions, particularly in comparison to the commonly used antimicrobial, PAA.

Research Note: Bacterial composition of settled dust during growout of broiler chickens.

Dust present in poultry houses can disseminate bacteria in air and deposit them on surfaces. This study evaluated bacteria in settled dust during growout of broilers from 2 flocks (Flocks A and B). Dust samples for bacteria analyses were obtained during 6 wk of growout (Flocks A and B) and 1 wk after flock termination (Flock B) by environmental swabbing and collecting dust in petri dishes from multiple locations inside the poultry house. For weekly swabbing, dust deposited during each wk of the sampling period (noncumulatively, n = 12/wk) and cumulatively (n = 12/wk) throughout the sampling period was collected. Swabbed dust samples were analyzed for counts (log10 CFU/28 cm2) of aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliforms, and Salmonella recovery. For petri dish dust collection, dust was collected in weekly and bi-weekly time spans during the sampling period and then analyzed for Salmonella recovery. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's Exact Test and means were separated using LSD. Only aerobic plate counts changed over time in dust during growout (Flocks A and B; P < 0.0001). In noncumulatively settled dust, aerobic bacteria (Flocks A and B; P < 0.0001), E. coli (Flock A; P = 0.0432), and coliforms (Flock B; P = 0.0303) varied during growout with peak counts on wk 5 or wk 6, wk 4, and wk 4, respectively, after bird placement. Salmonella recovery did not vary in cumulatively (3/72, 10/84) and noncumulatively (0/12, 10/84) settled dust during growout in both flocks. In dust sampled by bi-weekly collection in petri dishes, Salmonella recovery was highest (5/6) between wk 2 to wk 4 for Flock B (P = 0.0118). Overall, this study displayed that settled dust bacteria levels can fluctuate during broiler growout, and dust can contain Salmonella.

Investigation of the potential of aerosolized Salmonella Enteritidis on colonization and persistence in broilers from day 3 to 21.

The presence of Salmonella in air of poultry houses has been previously confirmed. Therefore, it is important to investigate the entry of Salmonella into broilers through air. The present study aimed to evaluate different levels of Salmonella Enteritidis aerosol inoculations in broiler chicks for colonization of ceca, trachea, and liver/spleen and persistence over time. In 3 independent trials, 112 one-day-old birds were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 28/group). On d 1 of age, one group was exposed to an aerosol of sterile saline and the remaining three groups were exposed to an aerosol generated from one of 3 doses (103, 106, or 109 CFU/mL) of S. Enteritidis inoculum. Aerosol exposure time was 30 min/group and was performed using a nebulizer. On d 3, 7, 14, and 21 of age, ceca, trachea, and liver/spleen were aseptically removed. Ceca were cultured for Salmonella counts (log10 CFU/g) and all tissues were cultured for Salmonella prevalence. All tissues from the control group were Salmonella negative for all sampling days. On sampling d 3 and 7, ceca Salmonella counts were highest (5.14 and 5.11, respectively) when challenged with 109Salmonella (P ≤ 0.0281). Ceca Salmonella counts increased from d 3 (2.43) to d 7 (4.43), then remained constant when challenged at 103Salmonella, and counts decreased over time for all other groups. Tissue Salmonella prevalence increased with increasing challenge levels at all sampling timepoints (P ≤ 0.0213). Salmonella prevalence was low (0/18 to 4/18) and did not change over time following 103Salmonella challenge (P ≥ 0.2394). Prevalence decreased over time in ceca and trachea following 106 and 109Salmonella challenge (P ≤ 0.0483). Liver/spleen Salmonella prevalence increased from d 3 (13/18) to d 14 (18/18) and then decreased at d 21 (10/18) in birds exposed to an aerosol of 109Salmonella but remained constant over time for rest of the Salmonella inoculated groups. Overall, this study demonstrated the Salmonella colonization and persistence in different tissues in broilers following exposure to aerosolized Salmonella.