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This proposal describes a method for intervening in the pathogen infection and fecal shedding cycle by providing a new liner disinfectant. The application of this potent yet safe organic, dry material directly onto contaminated litter between flocks and during growout can help growers eliminate Salmonella and other pathogens from the litter.
Contamination of poultry and poultry products by Salmonella and other pathogens is a serious worldwide problem, causing an excess of $1.4 million in lost productivity, medical expenses and poultry production costs. To control the risks associated with consumption of pathogens on poultry products, federal processing plant inspection protocols (also known as the 'three strikes' rule) have been enacted. Many commercial poultry processors employ the use of disinfectants and antimicrobials at some point during growout; however, the growing number of plants failing the third strike period has led to an urgent need to limit Salmonella contamination and infection within live production facilities. This proposal describes a method for intervening in the pathogen infection and fecal shedding cycle by providing a new liner disinfectant. The application of this potent yet safe organic, dry material directly onto contaminated litter between flocks and during growout can help growers eliminate Salmonella and other pathogens from the litter. The treated litter will minimize colonization of pathogens derived from new chicks and reduce feces transmission between birds. Phase I will focus on demonstrating disinfection efficacy and understanding manufacturing requirements of the disinfectant while Phase II efforts will center on commercial field demonstration of the technology.
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Development of these new solid antimicrobial compounds for use as poultry litter amendments will reduce the spread of pathogens within poultry rearing houses, thereby reducing microbial load at processing plants. The end result is a safer food product and an economic boost to a significant sector of US production agriculture. A manufacturer and distributor for the envisaged product have already been identified and have signed related technology evaluation agreements. Successful reduction of pathogens in broiler litter will lead to testing and evaluation in other food animal production industries (i.e., beef cattle feedlots, swine production farms).