Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research
Project Number: 6022-32420-001-040-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 15, 2021
End Date: Jan 14, 2024
Objective:
1. Screen phytochemical nano emulsions for controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler chickens using short 14-21 day trials.
2. Investigate the potential of select phytochemical nanoemulsion treatments for efficacy in reducing Salmonella and Campylobacter in market age broiler chickens (prophylactic and therapeutic administration).
3. Test the effect of select phytochemical treatments on microbiome and gut health parameters of broiler chickens.
4. Study the effect of phytochemical administration on meat quality parameters in chickens.
Approach:
The project team assembled has a complex and complementary set of interdisciplinary scientific and practical skills necessary successfully complete the research under the proposed objectives.
Objective 1: We will prepare emulsions of plant compounds using food grade emulsifiers to enhance plant compound solubility, antimicrobial efficacy and uniformity of treatments. The nano emulsions will be characterized for the droplet size and poly disperity index. We will screen multiple phytochemical nanoemulsions with in vitro efficacy against foodborne pathogens for their efficacy against Campylobacter in 14 day old broiler chickens.
Objective 2: Based on the results obtained with 14-day-old birds, we will conduct large-scale studies to test the anti-Campylobacter efficacy of in-water supplementation of the most effective phytochemical nanoemulsion in market age broilers.
Objective 3: The effect of in-water supplementation of select phytochemical nanoemulsion on cecal microbiome and gut health in birds will be evaluated using transcriptomics, microbiome and metabolomics approaches.
Objective 4: The birds will be processed at the end of the production cycle and the effect of prophylactic and therapeutic supplementation of phytochemical nanoemulsions on meat quality parameters will be determined.
