ARS | Publication request: RESTING ON TRANSPORT TRAILER REDUCES SALMONELLA AT HARVEST

Submitted to: Safepork
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 7, 2005
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Recent research has shown that much pre-harvest Salmonella enterica infection in pigs occurs immediately before slaughter during the rest period in the contaminated abattoir holding pens. The objective of this study was to evaluate a potential intervention strategy to reduce the prevalence of S. enterica-positive pigs at slaughter, which consisted in resting pigs prior to slaughter on their transport vehicle, instead of in the abattoir-holding pen. Additionally, the effect of transportation of pigs from farm to the abattoir on S. enterica prevalence was investigated. Fecal samples were collected at the farm and at the abattoir, where randomly chosen pigs were unloaded, and moved to a holding pen, whereas the rest of the pigs stayed in the transport trailer. After approximately 1.5 hour of resting, both groups were slaughtered and sampled. Results showed higher S. enterica recovery rates from pigs held in the abattoir pens. There was no difference for the S. enterica prevalence before and after transportation from farm to abattoir. This study demonstrates that, except for unloading logistics, the possibility of resting pigs on the transport vehicle has the potential to decrease S. enterica levels entering the abattoir.