Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit
Project Number: 6040-32420-003-011-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 11, 2025
End Date: Aug 10, 2027
Objective:
Extensive production systems are becoming increasingly popular within the US laying hen production systems. Production systems research between Purdue University and the USDA ARS National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) in Athens, GA will evaluate impact of production systems on chicks, pullets and laying hens. The research will require chick delivery, pullet rearing, mixing of diets and ensuring birds and diets are available to USNPRC when needed.
Approach:
Commercial genetic lines will be reared-in-place following commercial rearing program guidelines and management recommendations for cage-free production systems. In animal Bio-safety Level 2 cage-free production facilities chicks and young pullets will be inoculated with Salmonella spp.. Multiple studies will be conducted to evaluate the persistent in the production system environment as well as determine the horizontal transmission with the flock, invasion of internal organs and vertical transmission into eggs. Factors as such: stocking density, chick/pullet/hen age in the production system, and other possible management strategies being implemented in the commercial egg industry. Salmonella Enteritidis and other Salmonella species will be used as inoculation organisms however other microorganisms of concern may be used if they become a concern in the US egg production over the course of the agreement.