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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421130
Research Project: Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production Environments

Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit

Title: Key Farm to Fork factors influencing E. coli level in pastured poultry production

Author
item KIM, MINHO - Department Of Energy
item AL HAKEEM, WALID - Department Of Energy
item Rothrock Jr, Michael

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/25/2024
Publication Date: 1/5/2025
Citation: Kim, M., Al Hakeem, W., Rothrock Jr, M.J. 2025. Key Farm to Fork factors influencing E. coli level in pastured poultry production. International Poultry Scientific Forum. p. 326.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pasture poultry farms offer a unique model for investigating microbial ecology in less controlled environments, presenting both challenges and opportunities for food safety management. E. coli can serve as an indicator organism for environmental contamination and exploring the efficacy of interventions. This study aims to identify and understand the factors that influence E. coli level with two modeling approaches: random forest (RF) model and a linear mixed-effect model (LMM). Data were collected from 11 pastured poultry farms in southeastern United States from 2014 to 2017. Five sample types were analyzed: soil, feces, ceca, whole carcass rinse after processing (WCR-P), and whole carcass rinse after chilling and storage (WCR-F). Two different sets of predictor variables were used separately: (1) 32 Farming practices and 26 soil physiochemical constituents, and (2) 80 meteorological data. For farming practices and soil constituents, both RF model and LMM identified pH in soil and feces and Na in soil as key factors influencing E. coli levels. The LMM also showed significant positive correlations for pH in soil (t=3.9) and feces (t=9.2), and for Na in soil (t=3.5). Bird age was associated with lower E. coli levels in feces and ceca samples according to the RF model, while the LMM partially supported this, showing significantly lower levels at mid-pasture time compared to end (t=-2.6). During processing, RF model with WCR-P samples showed that carcasses washed with organic acid had lower E.coli level while similar result was predicted from WCR-F samples with longer storage time. For meteorological factors, daily temperature range was important in both soil and feces showing higher daily temperature range reducing E. coli level. LMM was not used for meteorological factors due to the multicollinearity. This study identifies key predictors influencing E. coli levels in farm-to-fork continuum. The study can help stakeholders developing data driven management strategies to reduce food safety risk and explain correlations between specific weather events and level of the pathogen in preharvest environment.