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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350696
Research Project: Production and Processing Intervention Strategies for Poultry Associated Foodborne Pathogens

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Effects of a dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) air sanitation system used in an egg cooler on hatchability and chick quality

Author
item MELO, ERICA - University Of Georgia
item MCELREATH, JULIA - University Of Georgia
item WILSON, JEANNA - University Of Georgia
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item JORDAN, BRIAN - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2018
Publication Date: 1/29/2018
Citation: Melo, E., Mcelreath, J., Wilson, J., Cox Jr, N.A., Jordan, B. 2018. Effects of a dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) air sanitation system used in an egg cooler on hatchability and chick quality [abstract]. International Poultry Scientific Forum. Poultry Sci. 97(E-Suppl.1).

Interpretive Summary: none

Technical Abstract: In commercial poultry production, hatcheries are a source of continual contamination. Sanitation in the hatchery is a constant process, where minimal beneficial results are seen if done correctly, but drastic negative impacts are felt when done improperly. A sanitation method that could continually clean and disinfect a hatchery in support of daily cleaning procedures would be valuable in commercial hatcheries. For this reason, a commercially available gaseous dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) system has been introduced into hatcheries to continually combat microbes in the air and on surfaces. Preliminary studies have shown that this system can indeed reduce the microbial population in hatcheries and on the surface of eggs however, the effects of this new system on hatchability and chick quality need to be evaluated. A total of 3,960 fertile eggs were collected from an approximately 40 week old Ross 308 broiler breeder flock maintained at the Poultry Science research farm and distributed in 2 treatments: control (no disinfection) and treated. For the treated group, one DHP air sanitizer was placed inside an egg cooler at the Poultry Science research farm and two other machines were placed in the common area outside. Both areas were treated for 7 days prior to placement of eggs, and then eggs were collected and placed inside the cooler over a four day period. Eggs were stored for 3 days after the last collection prior to placement in the incubator. During pre-treatment and egg storage, DHP levels were measured inside the cooler and air samples were taken to evaluate environmental microbial load. After storage, all DHP machines were removed from the cooler and external room five days before placing the eggs and the egg cooler was cleaned. During the treated phase of the trial, a daily increasing level of DHP was measured in the egg cooler, with an average level of 12 ppb, and a concomitant reduction in microbial load from air samples was seen, confirming that the room was treated and the system was killing microbes as expected. The hatch and chick quality data from this project will provide valuable knowledge for hatcheries when deciding the merits of this sanitation system.