This article presents the surveillance data from the Feed Contaminants Program (2002–2009) and Salmonella Assignment (2007–2009) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which monitor the trend of Salmonella contamination in animal feeds. A total of 2,058 samples were collected from complete animal feeds, feed ingredients, pet foods, pet treats, and supplements for pets in 2002–2009. …
To determine the prevalence of Salmonella serotype Enteritidis in eggs in South Korea, we conducted a microbiological survey of commercially available eggs produced in conventional or organic farms during the period from 2010 to 2012. The contents of 7,000 raw shell eggs (6,000 of conventional and 1,000 of organic origin) were examined to evaluate the extent …
Foodborne illness caused by Salmonella spp. is a worldwide problem. In the United States Salmonella Enteritidis is the second most commonly isolated serotype from human illness, and is known to be strongly associated with shell eggs and egg containing products. Eggs can become contaminated internally either by penetration through the shell or directly during formation in …
The continuing attribution of human Salmonella Enteritidis infections to internally contaminated eggs has necessitated the commitment of substantial public and private resources to Salmonella Enteritidis testing and control programs in commercial laying flocks. Cost-effective risk-reduction requires a detailed and comprehensive understanding of how Salmonella Enteritidis infections in hens result in deposition of the pathogen inside eggs. The present …
Since 2007, a national Salmonella control program including obligatory vaccination has been ongoing in Belgium. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the diversity of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis isolates on 5 persistently contaminated Belgian layer farms and to examine the potential sources and transmission routes of Salmonella Enteritidis contamination on the farms during …
As a part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Avian Pathology we review the last four decades of Salmonella research which has led to major progress in our understanding of the bacteriology and infection biology of the organism through the huge advances in molecular biology and immunology that have accompanied technical advances in biology generally. In many …
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the biometrics of organs (ovary, oviduct, liver, proventriculus and gizzard) of laying hens submitted to different forced-molting methods of molt and maintained at three different temperature. Organs were evaluated after molting and resting period. Six hundred birds were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in a 5×3 …
The objective of the present experiment was to compare the performance, egg quality and organ morphometrics of commercial layers submitted to alternative forced molting methods using dietary fibers. The experimental period included the phases of molting, rest, and second laying cycle (six periods of 28 days each). In the trial, 320 commercial Isa Brown layers …
The aim of this study was to compare the applicability of the non-feed removal method with the feed withdrawal method by using alfalfa meal and barley in molting. Moreover, the effects of humate (2 g/kg), carnitine (0.1 g/kg) and humate (2 g/kg) + carnitine (0.1 g/kg) supplementation to the diets during postmolt period along with …
This study was conducted to determine the ability of different molt diets to induce molt in 95-wk-old hens. The hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments of 60 birds each: 1) molted by full feeding with broken rice (BROK), 2) corn (CRN), 3) cassava (CASS), or 4) nonmolted control (CONT) for 14 d. At 15 …
The neuroendocrine system controls animals’ adaptability to their environments by releasing psychotropic compounds such as catecholamines [epinephrine (EP), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA)], corticosterone (CORT), and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT). Changes of these neuroendocrine compounds have been used as biomarkers of animals’ stress responses associated with their well-being. Assuming that pullets, like laying hens, are …
Osteoporosis, a progressive decrease in mineralized structural bone, causes 20 to 35% of all mortalities in caged White Leghorn hens. Previous research has focused on manipulating the egg laying environment to improve skeletal health, with little research on the pullet. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of perch access on …
The aim of this trial was to determine the influence of aerial perches on welfare and production parameters in free-range laying hens. Five commercial free-range houses, each containing between 7000 and 8000 birds, were used. Each house and range area was split in half to create two treatments. In half of the house the birds …
Provision of perches in cages could improve behaviour and physical conditions of layinghens. This study was conducted to investigate the choice of perch characteristics (shape, width, material and height) by caged hens under different group size, and to understand the choice by the perching behaviours of hens. This study was consisted of four trials: perch …
In a two-year experiment, we investigated the influence of sward plant species composition (sward type), stocking duration and state of sward degradation on the foraging behaviour of chickens. Laying hens (ISA Warren) were pastured on 15 sward types including 14 mono-cultures of grassland plant species (nine grasses and five forb species) and one mixed sward …
In small-group furnished cages with nests lined with artificial turf, a high use of nest and acceptable egg quality are generally achieved. However, artificial turf has drawbacks, such as not letting manure through and not being cleanable in position. Therefore, a more perforated nest-lining material would be preferable given that nest acceptance and egg quality …
Using laying hens, we investigated whether position of a nest box, both within the pen and relative to other nest boxes, influenced the preference for a nest box, and how a sudden and marked change to the preferred box influenced the use of nest boxes by the hens. Groups (n = 12) of 15 Isa …