Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156545
Title: SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN THE CROPS OF POULTRY

Author
item Byrd Ii, James - Allen
item STANKER, LARRY
item Corrier, Donald

Submitted to: Patent Application
Publication Type: Patent Application
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2002
Publication Date: 4/29/2003
Citation: Byrd II, J.A., Stanker, L.H., Corrier, D.E. 2003. System for the control of enteropathogenic bacteria in the crops of poultry. U.S. Patent 6,555,106B2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Poultry undergo a feed withdrawal prior to transport to the processing plant. During feed withdrawal, poultry tend to peck at floor litter, some of which may be contaminated with foodborne pathogens. These pathogens could be subsequently transported to the processing plant in the upper gastrointestinal tract of poultry, leak out during slaughter, and cross contaminate other carcasses. One strategy to reduce ingestion of floor litter is to provide an alternative target to which the birds will preferentially peck. The present patent describes the use of a biodegradable packing material that broilers peck at instead of pathogen contaminated litter during feed withdrawal. The material has several beneficial properties including the following: 1)it is environmentally compatible because it will degrade in poultry grow-out houses; 2)it can provide a food source to beneficial bacteria in the gut without physically filling the gastrointestinal tract of the birds; 3) it can be treated with bactericidal or bacteristatic compounds that dissolve in water. Incorporation of this biodegradable material in the broiler grow-out house during pre-transport feed withdrawal may reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination of crops and broiler carcasses at processing.