ARS | Publication request: ALTERNATIVES TO ANTIBIOTIC FOR CONTROL OF BATERIAL PATHOGENS IN POULTRY

Submitted to: Anales Del Instituto De Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 30, 2003
Publication Date: December 15, 2003
Citation: Hargis, B.M., Donoghue, A.M., Higgins, S.E., Donoghue, D.J., Guillermo, T. 2003. Alternatives to antibiotic for control of baterial pathogens in poultry [CD-ROM]. Version 1. Mexico City, MX: Anales Del Instituto De Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico.

Technical Abstract: Our laboratory has evaluated a defined culture consisting of nine bacterial organisms in a large commerical turkey field trial in the United States involving approximately 38 million turkeys. In these studies, performance was enhanced ($0.096 per bird due to feed efficiency improvement), mortality was reduced, total medication cost was reduced, and Salmonella detection on carcasses at the processing plant was reduced by almost 50%. Also, as part of this study, Salmonella-infected flocks were identified at least 2 weeks prior to slaughter and treated with the bacterial culture. Treatment resulted in eliminating incidence of recovery of Salmonella in over 80% of the drag swabs (environmental samples) as compared to controls. These results provide some indication that this culture and others may be effective for actually treating enteric infections of poultry.