For poultry producers, this is a significant challenge as the bacteria may enter the bird via several routes, according to the company which develops Selko feed additives. Low quality of the water and feed systems, insufficient biosecurity measures and the arrival of new animals, are important factors to take into account. Finding solutions to control Salmonella is key as it has a direct impact on both animal health and welfare, and on food safety.

 

 

 

A large part of broiler flocks has Salmonella prevalence above 1%. Although these animals are clinically healthy, they are frequently carriers with the bacteria present in the caeca. In broiler production, this represents a problem as bacteria are consistently excreted via the faeces into the environment for extended periods of time. This increases the environmental prevalence, leading to a spread of the organism within the flock and potential problems for the end product. Besides the negative impact in the flock growth and productivity, it also has consequences for the quality and value of the broiler meat for human consumption.

 

As Salmonella control is such a multi-factorial issue, innovative solutions to control it are permanently tested. The current trial tested the effect of a feed additive on the Salmonella counts in the liver, spleen and caeca in broilers.

 

 

Trouw Nutrition set up a six-week trial with 360 Salmonella challenged broilers.  Three treatments were tested, comparing a control diet with antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and a feed additive. At the end of the study, the Salmonella prevalence in the liver, spleen and caeca of selected birds from each treatment was determined.

 

The use of the feed additive significantly decreased Salmonella counts in the liver, spleen and caeca in the early phase of the Salmonella challenge compared to both the control and the AGP group.  In the AGP group, no influence was observed in the Salmonella counts of liver and spleen when compared with the control group.

 

These results obtained with the feed additive represented a promising solution for this complex challenge. Including such feed additive interventions in a total approach of feed, farm and health management can prove to be very successful in Salmonella reduction for poultry production, Trouw Nutrition says. In this case, lowering the Salmonella counts in organs reduces risk of transmission from bird-to-bird in a flock and so contributes to the reduction of Salmonella in the total poultry feed to food chain.

 

 

In a Salmonella reduction programme, it is vital to address all main routes contributing to the spreading of Salmonella, Trouw Nutrition adds. Fysal Fit-4 is a multi-disciplinary product containing different barriers to reduce, for instance, Salmonella enteritidis bacteria in poultry. There are four modes of action: Fysal Fit-4 lowers the viability of Salmonella in feed and crop, reduces the growth of Salmonella in the gut, reduces the risk of adhesion to the mucosal barrier and down-regulates the virulence of the bacteria to mitigate the risk of invasion.

 

- Trouw Nutrition