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Listen to this siteTuesday 13 June 2006
This research project reviews current farm practices used in the free range and organic sectors. Those practices thought to reduce the likelihood of chicken flocks becoming colonised with campylobacter will be investigated.
Study Duration : April 2006 to March 2009
Contractor : University of Bristol
There are marked differences between production systems and management practices used for broiler, free range and organic chickens. These differences might influence exposure of birds to campylobacter and transmission of campylobacter within and between flocks. This project will investigate those farm practices thought to be effective in reducing campylobacter flock colonisation. Conclusions will be validated by microbiological testing.
The first phase of the project will review farm practices to:
The end of phase one will form a natural break point, the project will end at this point if no suitable practices are identified.
The second phase will evaluate the effects of any identified practices on nine farms with monitoring of campylobacter flock prevalence continuing for one year. Recommendations will be produced based on these intervention studies on best practice and could be used to produce guidance material for the UK poultry industry.
Approach
This study was undertaken to identify and evaluate extensive farm practices that may reduce campylobacter colonisation in birds or extend the lag phase (period before colonisation).
Campylobacters were isolated from extensive flocks reared under different management systems.
Samples were taken from faeces and the farm environment at the end of the housed brooding stage and, together with enumeration in caecal contents at slaughter, provided statistical links to farm practices.
Seventeen organic and fifteen free-range flocks were sampled on three occasions: day of fill, day of transfer and caeca from the abattoir at clear.
During the second phase of the project isolates recovered from flocks and the farm environment were examined by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to investigate potential sources of campylobacter on farm.
The ability of campylobacter flock strains to survive on pasture and on litter pads after flock depletion was also investigated.
Results
Only one of the 32 flocks studied was negative for campylobacter at clear.
Neither the management system nor production type (free-range or organic) had any significant effect on campylobacter colonisation at clear.
Several factors were found to effect the campylobacter status of four week old birds, these include:
Pasture was found to remain positive for campylobacter for up to 24 days after depletion, increasing the potential for spread the farm and to subsequent flocks. Of the pasture isolates those recovered up to 9 days after depletion were found to match the flock strain. Those recovered after longer periods (up to 24 days) were not found to match that in the flock. This may have implications for the rest period of pasture between flocks.
Only 6 of the flocks tested showed a match between the flock strain of campylobacter and sources on-farm (when examined using PFGE). These sources commonly included the front of the house, the entrance to the farm, pop holes, puddles, pasture, the close surrounds of the house, from the farm dog. Campylobacter types in target flocks could often be linked to strains recovered from other multi-age flocks on-site; thus reiterating the risks posed by this practice.
Samples were also taken from litter pads on 9 farms for up to 6 days after depletion. Campylobacter was recovered from 3 of the 9 farms after 6 days suggesting there is a risk of the organism spreading unless the pads are cleared promptly after use or disinfected.
The findings support the need to practice biosecurity to prevent transmission of campylobacter.
Multi-age sites were also found to be a significant risk factor for flock colonisation.
Survival of campylobacter on-farm suggests a need to remove or disinfect litter pads after use and for pasture rotation on sites with mobile houses or increased rest periods for static housed sites.
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