Abstract
BackgroundOutdoor production of poultry is rapidly increasing, which could be associated with increased risks for exposure to different environmental sources of Salmonella. We report a comparison on the occurrence of Salmonella during 2007–2015 in broilers and laying hens in outdoor and indoor production subjected to the same requirements for the prevention and control of Salmonella as applied in Sweden.ResultsOur results give no indication that, during the period studied, the exposure to Salmonella in outdoor poultry production was higher than in the indoor production. The annual incidence of Salmonella infected flocks in outdoor production remained at a very low and at a similar level as for indoor production. For laying hens the annual proportion of birds in test positive flocks ranged from 0 to 1.3% for indoor production from 0 to 2.0% for outdoor production. For broilers the proportion of Salmonella infected flocks (2013–2015) was 0.16% for indoor, and 0% in outdoor production. The difference was not statistically significant and was further reduced when flocks infected due to vertical transmission or from a hatchery source were excluded. It should, however, be considered that the number of outdoor flocks included in this evaluation is very small and continuous evaluation is needed.ConclusionsNew animal production systems, including those driven by consumer and welfare demands, may be associated with a higher risk for the exposure of potential pathogens to food animals and possibly also subsequent outbreaks of food borne infections. In this study no increase in the risk for exposure of flocks to Salmonella in outdoor poultry production was found. The situation may well change and the possibility of Salmonella contamination in outdoor poultry production requires continuous attention.
Highlights
Outdoor production of poultry is rapidly increasing in Sweden, which could be associated with increased risks for exposure to different environmental sources of Salmonella, including wildlife [8,9,10]
It could further be assumed that cleaning and disinfection applied between flocks in indoor production and in particular when outbreaks of Salmonella infections have occurred would be less efficient in minimizing the risk for residual Salmonella contamination in outdoor conditions
The objective of this study was to analyze the risk for exposure of Salmonella in outdoor poultry production compared to indoor production
Summary
Outdoor production of poultry is rapidly increasing, which could be associated with increased risks for exposure to different environmental sources of Salmonella. Long term experience from Sweden, Finland and Norway has shown that exposure of poultry to Salmonella can largely be prevented in indoor production of broiler chickens and in laying hens [6, 7]. In these countries, the prevalence of Salmonella of any serovar is extremely low [5]. It could further be assumed that cleaning and disinfection applied between flocks in indoor production and in particular when outbreaks of Salmonella infections have occurred would be less efficient in minimizing the risk for residual Salmonella contamination in outdoor conditions
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