Chicken Carcasses Research Articles

Changes in the bioactive compounds of sun-dried ginger rhizome and their effects on growth performance, blood profile, carcass and meat quality of broiler chickens

Changes in the bioactive compounds of sun-dried ginger rhizome and their effects on growth performance, blood profile, carcass and meat quality of broiler chickens

Contamination of broiler chicken carcasses with L. monocytogenes and the effect of disinfectants on organoleptic and physicochemical parameters of meat

The popularity of poultry meat is growing in almost all countries. The consumer prefers chicken considering its high nutritional and dietary value, relatively low price, safety, and the absence of religious restrictions. At the same time, close attention is paid to the safety of food products since food poisoning in poultry processing enterprises is an urgent problem. Based on the results of research on 25 poultry carcasses intended for sale in retail chains, L. monocytogenes was detected in chicken carcasses, broiler chickens in 1 case (4.0 % of studies), semi-finished products from broiler chickens in 2 cases (8 % of studies). During the study of 45 samples in the primary processing shop to establish possible sources and areas of cross-insemination of L. monocytogenes on the surface of poultry carcasses, in 8 cases or 17.8 % of the studies, L. monocytogenes was isolated in washings from carcasses, from the water of the cooling bath ‒ in 3 cases from 13 or 23.1 % of studies, in washes from equipment ‒ in 1 case or 14.3 %, in washes from hands ‒ in 1 case (14.3 %). The resistance of L. monocytogenes to the action of the disinfectant “Balandas-A Forte” 0.07 % solution has been studied; it has a non-permanent antimicrobial effect against L. monocytogenes, 0.15 % ‒ ensures the inactivation of L. monocytogenes in a bath with a water temperature of 10 ºС. There are no significant differences in the organoleptic parameters of the meat and the broth (transparency, aroma), made from poultry meat cooled in the usual way and when using the disinfectant “Balandez-A Forte.” However, in the treated carcasses, compared to the control, there is a change in the color of the surface of the carcasses and internal fat - their color becomes yellow and has a wax-like layering, which the consumer can negatively perceive, the reason for this may be the effect of peracetic acid (PAA) on the adipose tissue of the bird. According to physical and chemical indicators, poultry meat cooled with cold water and using a disinfectant solution met the requirements of the standards. Disinfectant “Balandez-A Forte” of 0.07 and 0.15 % concentration inactivates L. monocytogenes, 0.07 % solution reduces KMAFAnM by three orders of magnitude from (1.7 ± 0.3)×104 to (3.1 ± 0.8)×101, but does not inactivate bacteria of the group of Escherichia coli, water from a cooling bath with a working solution of 0.15 % concentration of a disinfectant allows inactivation of BGKP and ensures inactivation of L. monocytogenes in cold water (10 ºC).

USE OF AZOLLA PINATA IN THE RATIONING OF POULET DE FASO BROILERS IN BURKINA FASO: INFLUENCE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, CUT PARTS AND ORGANS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the growth performance of chicken broilers Poulet du Faso fed rations incorporating Azzola pinata. Three growth-finishing diets were formulated and tested, including 02 experimental diets incorporating 5% (ED5) and 10% (ED10) azzola meal and a standard control without azzola (SCD). One hundred and five (105) chicks divided into batches of 35 chicks per diet were used for the experiment, which lasted 54 days (8 weeks). The results show that the growth rate of the chicks was significantly faster for ED5 and ED10 diets (p<0.05), comparable for all diets for the last 2 weeks, and overall average daily gain (p˃0.05). The average daily feed intake (ADFI) of ED5 and ED10 were homogeneous(p˃0.05) and significantly higher than that of the SCD ration(p<0.05) No significant difference in CI and FCPkgLW was noted between the 3 diets(p˃0.05).No significant differences in hot (RDTcc) and chilled (RDTcr) carcass yields and abdominal fat content (AFC) were observed between diets ED5, ED10 and SCD(p˃0.05). Among the organs and parts of the cut, only the average weight of the Thigh+Tail of diets SCD and ED5 were homogeneous(p˃0.05) and significantly higher than that of ED10(p<0.05). Incorporating Azolla meal into the diet had no adverse effect on chicken carcass characteristics. Azolla meal can be recommended for use as a source of vegetable protein in chicken rations, particularly for purebred mixed breeds.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Kampung Chicken Carcasses

Kampung chicken meats have been widely consumed in Indonesia as well as broiler chicken. However, the extensive rearing allowed multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria exposure to kampung chicken, including through horizontal gene transfer. This study aimed to observe the correlation between the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella spp. isolated from kampung chicken carcasses. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was evaluated by Kirby-Bauer's disk diffusion method, while the detection of drug resistance genes in seventeen isolates of Salmonella was carried out by PCR. All (17/17) isolates were susceptible to ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Most isolates of Salmonella were resistant to erythromycin (82%; 14/17), while the decreased susceptibility (intermediate category) most occurred in oxytetracycline (82%; 14/17). Salmonella Typhimurium showed a resistance pattern to more antimicrobial groups than S. Newport and S. Weltevreden. Several antimicrobial resistance genes (blaTEM, tetG, cmlA, gyrA) were present in all (17/17) isolates of Salmonella spp. Resistance to antimicrobial agents and the presence of resistance genes were not always related. This study could provide beneficial information regarding the transmission of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella spp. from kampung chickens.

265 Interactive Effects of Dietary Isoleucine and Valine Ratios to Lysine in Response to Varying Leucine to Lysine Ratios on Pectoralis Major Muscle Protein Expression in Commercial Broilers

Abstract Optimizing the dietary concentrations and ratios of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) is necessary to optimize broiler chicken growth performance and carcass meat yield. A central composite design (CCD) study was conducted to understand the impact of dietary BCAA concentrations and ratios on Pectoralis major (PM) muscle protein expression involved in mTOR and related protein synthesis pathways as well as and investigate the mechanisms behind how BCAA ratios affect broiler growth and muscle protein accretion. A total of 2,592 d-old Ross 344 × 708 male broilers were randomly placed in 144 floor pens (n = 18 birds per pen). Before the initiation of the experimental finisher phase, all pens were standardized to contain 15 birds per pen. Each pen received 1 of 15 dietary treatments in the 23 CCD with 6 center points from 20 to 35 d of age, varying in digestible ratios of valine:lysine (Val:Lys; 64 to 87), leucine:lysine (Leu:Lys; 110 to 185), and isoleucine:lysine (Ile:Lys; 52 to 75). On d 35, 1 bird per pen was randomly selected for PM protein extraction and proteomic analysis via data independent acquisition protein sequencing with a timsTOF Pro 2 LC/MS/MS and Spectronaut 15 software. Ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RPS6KA3), eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (EEF2), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (EIF4B), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (EIF4E), CAP-Glycine domain containing linker protein 1 (CLIP1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), Protein kinase domain-containing protein (MAP2K1), Dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MAP2K2), paxillin (PXN), and regulator complex protein (LAMTOR3) were identified, quantified, and analyzed as a CCD using the RSREG procedure of SAS ver. 9.4 with significance set at P ≤ 0.10. The surface response models for RPS6KA3, EEF2, EIF4B, EIF4E, MAPK3, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, CLIP1, PXN, and LAMTOR3 were not significant (P ≥ 0.926; R2 values ≤ 0.1). No linear (P ≥ 0.5223), quadratic (P ≥ 0.0.634) or cross product (P ≥ 0.6238) regression effects were observed for any of the proteins analyzed. A minimum stationary point was observed for RPS6KA3, EEF2, MAPK3, and LAMTOR3. However, optimal values for the other proteins could not be obtained due to stationary saddle points. Overall, the results in this study indicate that varying concentrations of dietary BCAA may not impact expression of proteins related to broiler skeletal muscle growth on d 35 following the 15-d treatment period, despite the influence on live performance. This is a limitation of this study and suggests that if the mTOR pathway was involved it was not still differentially up- or down-regulated at this time point. Further investigation and new studies with multiple time points will be required to better understand the mechanisms behind how BCAA impact broiler growth and muscle development.

308 Effect of Thermal Variation During Late-Stage Incubation and Sex on Broiler Chicken Body Weight and Carcass Parts Uniformity

Abstract Low uniformity of broiler live body weight, carcass, and parts weights can reduce overall processing yields and profitability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermal manipulation (TM) during late-stage incubation (LSI) and sex on the uniformity and coefficient of variation (CV) in high yielding broilers. Yield Plus ′ Ross 708 broiler breeder eggs (n = 2,160) were incubated at 37.5 °C from embryonic day (ED) 0 to 10. From ED 11 to 18, eggs were incubated at 1 of 3 air temperature set points: 37.5 °C (CTL), 36.4 °C (COLD), or 38.6 °C (HOT; n = 2 incubators per treatment). On ED 18, all eggs were transferred to baskets in hatchers set to 36.7 °C. Chicks were vent sexed, placed in floor pens blocked by incubation treatment and sex (n = 6 replicate pens of 30 birds per treatment), and fed a common diet. Broilers were individually weighed at d 9, 23, and 32, then, the 15 birds from each pen closest to the pen median BW were processed on d 33. The distance of each bird BW from the pen mean and median, TM treatment, sex, and whole flock BW over time, uniformity of BW (within 10% of the mean), and intra-pen CV were calculated. Data were analyzed as a 2-way ANOVA using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS ver. 9.4 with TM treatment and broiler sex serving as the main effects. Means were separated at P ≤ 0.05 with the PDIFF option. On d 9, a TM by sex interaction was observed, and the BW of female CTL chicks was less variable from the pen mean compared with broilers hatched from COLD and females from HOT incubators (P ≤ 0.026). On d 9, sub-optimal incubation temperatures (HOT and COLD) during LSI resulted in higher individual female bird BW variation from the pen mean and median (P = 0.013). Incubating chicks in COLD incubators during LSI increased d-9 individual bird BW distance from the treatment, sex, and flock mean and median BW compared with CTL and HOT (P ≤ 0.037). In addition, BW uniformity within a pen was less in broilers hatched from COLD incubators than both CTL and HOT on d 9 (P = 0.033) and tended to be less on d 32 (P = 0.099). The inverse was observed for CV (P ≤ 0.040). Broilers hatched from COLD and HOT incubators had greater CV for carcass (P = 0.049) and wing (P = 0.028) as well as drumstick (P = 0.079) weights. These results indicate that sub-optimal LSI conditions can negatively influence uniformity of broiler live BW, carcass and parts weights and highlights the importance of achieving optimal incubation conditions.

Prevalence of colistin resistance and antibacterial resistance in commensal Escherichia coli from chickens: An assessment of the impact of regulatory intervention in South Africa.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem largely due to the overuse of antimicrobials. In recognition of this, the World Health Assembly in 2015 agreed on a global action plan to tackle AMR. Following the global emergence of the mcr-1-associated colistin resistance gene in the livestock industry in 2016, several countries including South Africa restricted the veterinary use of colistin as the gene threatens the clinical utility of the drug. This study is a follow-up to the restriction in place in order to evaluate the impact of such policy adoption. To assess the prevalence of antibacterial resistance (ABR), and the mcr-1 colistin resistance gene in broiler chicken over a 2-year period, as a follow-up to the veterinary ban on colistin use in South Africa. A total of 520 swab samples were obtained during 2019 (March-April) and 2020 (February-March), from healthy broiler chicken carcasses (n=20) and chicken droppings in transport crates (n=20) at various poultry abattoirs (N=7) in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Escherichia coli organisms were isolated and subjected to a panel of 24 antibacterials using the MicroScan machine. Screening for mcr-1 colistin resistance gene was undertaken using PCR. Four hundred and thirty-eight (438) E. coli strains were recovered and none demonstrated phenotypic resistance towards colistin, amikacin, carbapenems, tigecycline and piperacillin/tazobactam. The mcr-1 gene was not detected in any of the isolates tested. Resistances to the aminoglycosides (0%-9.8%) and fluoroquinolones (0%-18.9%) were generally low. Resistances to ampicillin (32%-39.3%) and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (30.6%-3.6%) were fairly high. A significant (p<0.05) increase in cephalosporins and cephamycin resistance was noted in the year 2020 (February-March) when compared with the year 2019 (March-April). The absence of mcr-1 gene and colistin resistance suggests that mitigation strategies adopted were effective and clearly demonstrated the significance of regulatory interventions in reducing resistance to critical drugs. Despite the drawback in regulatory framework such as free farmers access to antimicrobials OTC and a dual registration system in place, there is a general decline in the prevalence of ABR when the present data are compared with the last national veterinary surveillance on AMR (SANVAD 2007). To further drive resistance down, mitigation strategies should focus on strengthening regulatory framework, the withdrawal of OTC dispensing of antimicrobials, capping volumes of antimicrobials, banning growth promoters and investing on routine surveillance/monitoring of AMR and antimicrobial consumption.

A machine learning approach to identifying Salmonella stress response genes in isolates from poultry processing

We explored the potential of machine learning to identify significant genes associated with Salmonella stress response during poultry processing using whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. The Salmonella isolates (n = 177) used in this study were obtained from various chicken sources (skin before chiller, chicken carcass before chiller, frozen chicken, and post-chill chicken carcass). Six machine learning algorithms (random forest, neural network, cost-sensitive learning, logit boost, and support vector machine linear and radial kernels) were trained on Salmonella WGS data, and model fit was assessed using standard evaluation metrics such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve and confusion matrix statistics. All models achieved high performances based on the AUROC metric, with logit boost showing the best performance with an AUROC score of 0.904, sensitivity of 0.889, and specificity of 0.920. The significant genes identified included ybtX, which encodes a Yersiniabactin-associated zinc transporter, and the transferase-encoding genes yccK and thiS. Additionally, genes coding for cold (cspA, cspD, and cspE) and heat shock (rpoH and rpoE) responses were identified. Other significant genes included those involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (irp1, waaD, rfc, and rfbX), DNA repair and replication (traI), biofilm formation (ccdA and fyuA), and cellular metabolism (irtA).

Natural Antimicrobial Mixtures Disrupt Attachment and Survival of E. coli and C. jejuni to Non-Organic and Organic Surfaces.

The contact and adherence of bacteria to various surfaces has significant consequences on biofilm formation through changes in bacterial surface structures or gene expression with potential ramifications on plant and animal health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of organic acid-based mixtures (Ac) on the ability Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli to attach and form biofilm on various surfaces, including plastic, chicken carcass skins, straw bedding, and eggshells. Moreover, we aimed to explore the effect of Ac on the expression of E. coli (luxS, fimC, csgD) and C. jejuni (luxS, flaA, flaB) bacterial genes involved in the attachment and biofilm formation via changes in bacterial surface polysaccharidic structures. Our results show that Ac had a significant effect on the expression of these genes in bacteria either attached to these surfaces or in planktonic cells. Moreover, the significant decrease in bacterial adhesion was coupled with structural changes in bacterial surface polysaccharide profiles, impacting their adhesion and biofilm-forming ability. Essentially, our findings accentuate the potential of natural antimicrobials, such as Ac, in reducing bacterial attachment and biofilm formation across various environments, suggesting promising potential applications in sectors like poultry production and healthcare.

Foodborne hazards in food in Burkina Faso, 1990–2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundFoodborne diseases impose substantial public health burden and jeopardize socio-economic development worldwide. While accurate information on foodborne hazards is needed for informed decision in food safety interventions, such information is scarce in developing countries such as Burkina Faso. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting foodborne hazards in foods in Burkina Faso to describe the present knowledge of the situation.MethodsPreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used to conduct this review. Abstracts were searched in PubMed and CAB direct between 1 January 1990 to 30 September 2019. We used random-effects models to estimate pooled prevalence and I2 values to measure heterogeneity between studies.Results188 articles were identified, of which 14 are included in this review: 12 were on bacterial hazards (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus, E. coli, Shigella), three on fungal hazards and one on parasitic hazards (Toxoplasma gondii). The overall pooled prevalence of Salmonella spp. was 13% (95% CI: 8–21), the highest in lettuce: 50% (95% CI: 30–70) and the lowest in milk: 1.2% (95% CI: 0–5), demonstrating substantial variation among the studies (I2 = 85, 95% CI: 79–90%, p &amp;lt; 0.01). Campylobacter spp. was reported in chicken carcass, with 50% of the samples being positive. The overall pooled microbial load of Staphylococcus in the studied food samples was 3.2 log (95% CI: 2.8–3.6) CFU per g or ml of food, the highest in poultry samples: 4.5 log (95% CI: 2.8–6.2) CFU per g or ml of food. The overall pooled prevalence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was 40% (95% CI: 29–51), the highest in beef intestines: 62% (95% CI: 22–91) and the lowest in dairy products: 31% (95% CI: 17–50), showing substantial variation across the studies (I2 = 86, 95% CI: 80–90%, p &amp;lt; 0.01).ConclusionOur results showed widespread contamination of foods with foodborne hazards across various food value chains indicating poor hygienic handling of foods, raising consumers’ health risk due to foodborne illnesses from the foods. We recommend promotion of awareness creation in food safety and improved monitoring of hazards in food.

The Valorization and Potential Applications of Orange Byproducts and Waste in Poultry Feeding: A Review

Some chemicals have been utilized as a feed additive and growth stimulator to boost poultry performance in recent decades. Cereals have been one of the most extensively utilized feed in the rearing period of broiler chickens but due to their highly price it can present an economic consequence and some limitations of their use, alternatives such as orange byproducts have been recommended. In the second point there is a large utilization of growth stimulants during the rearing period of broilers, but due to the adverse consequences of antibiotic resistance and the limitations of their use, alternatives such as probiotics, prebiotics, plant essential oils, essences and by-products have been recommended. Orange waste can be found in abundance in some parts of the world. Aldehydes, esters, terpenes, alcohols, ketones, carotenoids, nobiletin, pectin and bioflavonoids such as hesperidin and naringenin are among the volatile substances found in orange waste. The practical applications of orange by-products and pomace in chicken feeding are presented in this review paper. This review presented the effects of orange waste and by-products on chicken performance and carcass components.

Ocorrência de Salmonella spp. na cadeia de produção de carne de frango

ABSTRACT Brazilian chicken meat is exported to more than 150 countries and consumed by consumer markets that demand high quality and food safety, thus, requiring very strict control of pathogens present in food to guarantee these rigorous safety standards. This study evaluates the reports from the Salmonella spp. Control and Monitoring Program of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of seven slaughterhouses inspected by the Federal Inspection Service from the western region of Paraná state, Brazil, from March 2017 to February 2019. The broiler litter swab and carcass analyses revealed a Salmonella spp. positivity ratio of 5.9% (19/319) and 23.5% (75/319), respectively. The concomitant presence of Salmonella spp. in the broiler litter swab and chicken carcasses occurred in 58% of the positive samples. The most frequently isolated serovar in the carcasses was Salmonella Heidelberg (85.3%) followed by Salmonella spp. (10.6%). During slaughter, carcass positivity to Salmonella spp. was significantly different (p=0.047) between the first (19.6%) and the second (29.4%) shifts. The results alert for the possibility of carcass contamination during slaughtering and, therefore, more stringent hygiene measures between shifts must be implemented to mitigate carcass contamination.

Optimization of the use of local feed ingredients from agricultural waste against the weight of broiler chicken carcasses

Feed is made from a mixture of ingredients that contain nutrients needed by livestock, these feed ingredients are the result of agricultural production and agricultural production waste. This study aims to determine the body weight of broiler chickens with feed derived from agricultural waste in Merauke Regency. This study used a randomized group design with 3 treatments and 3 repeats (A1: mash feed, A2: pellet feed without adhesive, A3: Pellet feed using adhesive). The results of research using feed ingredients derived from agricultural waste in Merauke Regency showed that the highest broiler carcass weight was obtained in the pellet feed treatment using adhesive with a value of 992 gr, then at the A2 treatment (Pellets without adhesive) of 962.67 gr, and finally the carcass weight was obtained at the A1 (Mash) treatment, amounting to 932 gr, the maintenance time for 35 days. This shows that Merauke Regency’s agricultural waste can be used as feed ingredients.

Bio-Mapping of Microbial Indicators and Pathogen Quantitative Loads in Commercial Broiler Processing Facilities in South America.

A bio-mapping study was conducted with the aim of creating a microbiological baseline on indicator organisms and pathogens in commercial broiler processing facilities located in a country in South America. Whole chicken carcass and wing rinses were collected from five stages of the poultry processing line: live receiving (LR), rehanger (R), post-evisceration (PE), post-chilling (PC), and wings (W). Rinses (n = 150) were enumerated using the MicroSnap™ system for total viable counts (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae (EB), while the BAX®-System-SalQuant® and BAX®-System-CampyQuant™ were used for Salmonella and Campylobacter, respectively. TVC and EB were significantly different between stages at the processing line (p < 0.01). There was a significant reduction from LR to PC for both microbial indicators. TVC and EB counts increased significantly from PC to W. Salmonella counts at PC were significantly different from the other stages at the processing line (p = 0.03). Campylobacter counts were significantly higher than the other stages at PC (p < 0.01). The development of bio-mapping baselines with microbial indicators showed consistent reduction up to the post-chilling stage, followed by an increase at the wings sampling location. The quantification of pathogens demonstrates that prevalence analysis as a sole measurement of food safety is not sufficient to evaluate the performance of processing operations and sanitary dressing procedures in commercial processing facilities.

Macromorphological Changes after Spontaneous Co-invasion of Eimeriosis, Histomonosis, and Trichomoniasis in Domestic Chickens

The study of macro morphological changes is important for recognizing pathological processes and diagnosing diseases, especially co-invasions. The current study aimed to reveal macro morphological changes during spontaneous co-invasion of Eimeria spp., Histomonas meleagridis, and Trichomonas gallinae in adult chickens. The methods of evisceration and parasitological studies of the carcasses of adult domestic chickens (n = 31) aged 1.5-2.3 years, and (n = 8) are the control group, died of a natural death from farms in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine revealed the peculiarities of manifestations of macro morphological changes in organs, which were characterized by manifestations of pathologies in 100% of cases in dead chickens by changes in the intestines and liver, in 48.39% in the spleen, in 16.13% in the bursa of Fabricius, in 16.13% in the peritoneum and 9.68% in skin. In particular, a mucosal-hemorrhagic inflammatory process was observed in the intestines of chickens with damage to both thin and thick parts (duodeno-jejuno-ileo-typho-cloacitis). This inflammatory process was observed in combination with necrotic-granulomatous lesions on the intestinal wall. A combined lesion of the liver was detected - hepatomegaly on the background of steatosis, multifocal necrosis, and granulomas (shiny, vitreous, with a white center) in the presence of Histomonas meleagridis and Trichomonas gallinae. A granulomatous splenitis was diagnosed in the spleen of chickens. Necrotic-granulomatous lesions leading to cyst formation were identified in the bursa of Fabricius. Additionally, granulomatous lesions originating from trichomoniasis were observed on the peritoneum and skin. These findings highlight the systemic nature of pathological-anatomical changes resulting from the co-infection of eimeriosis, histomoniasis, and trichomoniasis in domestic chickens. This systemic manifestation signifies the occurrence of multi-organ failure and holds valuable diagnostic implications.

Physical quality of KUB chicken carcass supplemented with turmeric

Public interest in kampung chicken (Ayam Kampung) must be balanced with the carcass’s quality. Providing healthy and antibiotic-free Ayam Kampung carcasses is a challenge for farmers. As a natural additive, turmeric could promote chicken growth performances. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of turmeric supplementation on the physical quality of KUB chicken carcasses. The study was conducted at the AIAT Bengkulu Postharvest Laboratory Unit from January to December 2021. About 20 KUB chickens (75 days old) were involved in this experiment. There were five treatments in this study, specifically: (1) without turmeric supplementation as control, (2) 2.5% turmeric supplementation, (3) 5% turmeric supplementation, (4) 7.5% turmeric supplementation, and (5) 10% turmeric supplementation. Each treatment was replicated four times. The observation of carcass quality included live weight, carcass weight, total carcass percentage, carcass part percentage (thighs, chest, and wings), heart weight, and abdominal fat percentage. The result showed that turmeric supplementation significantly reduced the abdominal fat of KUB chickens. However, the supplementation treatments did not influence KUB chicken’s carcass yield.

Comparative resistome, mobilome, and microbial composition of retail chicken originated from conventional, organic, and antibiotic-free production systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial composition, and the profiles of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs, resistome) and mobile genetic elements (mobilome) of retail chicken carcasses originated from conventional intensive production systems (CO), certified antimicrobial-free intensive production systems (AF), and certified organic production systems with restricted antimicrobial use (OR). DNA samples were collected from 72 chicken carcasses according to a cross-sectional study design. Shot-gun metagenomics was performed by means of Illumina high throughput DNA sequencing followed by downstream bioinformatic analyses. Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial class in all groups. Although CO, AF, and OR did not differ in terms of alpha- and beta-microbial diversity, the abundance of some taxa differed significantly across the groups, including spoilage-associated organisms such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. The co-resistome comprised 29 ARGs shared by CO, AF and OR, including genes conferring resistance to beta-lactams (blaACT-8, 10, 13, 29; blaOXA-212;blaOXA-275 and ompA), aminoglycosides (aph(3')-IIIa, VI, VIa and spd), tetracyclines (tet KL (W/N/W and M), lincosamides (inu A,C) and fosfomycin (fosA). ARGs were significantly less abundant (P < 0.05) in chicken carcasses from AF and OR compared with CO. Regarding mobile genetic elements (MGEs), transposases accounted for 97.2% of the mapped genes. A higher abundance (P=0.037) of MGEs was found in CO compared to OR. There were no significant differences in ARGs or MGEs diversity among groups according to the Simpson´s index. In summary, retail frozen chicken carcasses from AF and OR systems show similar ARGs, MGEs and microbiota profiles compared with CO, even though the abundance of ARGs and MGEs was higher in chicken carcasses from CO, probably due to a higher selective pressure.

Salmonella detection with LAMP and qPCR and identification of serovars of interest by multiplex qPCR in poultry carcasses.

Salmonella is present in the poultry production chain and is a major challenge in terms of food safety and animal health. The early Salmonella detection is one of the main tools to control and prevent the transmission of this pathogen. Microbiological isolation and serotyping to identify and differentiate Salmonella serovars are laborious processes, time-consuming, and expensive. Therefore, molecular diagnostic methods can be rapid and efficient alternatives to the detection of this pathogen. Thus, the aim herein was to standardize and evaluate the use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in comparison with real-time PCR (qPCR) for detection of Salmonella associated with a multiplex qPCR for simultaneous identification and differentiation of S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, and S. Gallinarum. The LAMP, qPCR, and multiplex qPCR assays were comparable in specificity. The three techniques were evaluated for specificity for 16 different serovars of Salmonella and for 37 strains of the serovars of interest. The limit of detection and the efficiency of the LAMP, qPCR, and multiplex qPCR reactions were determined. The techniques were applied to 33 samples of chicken carcasses and compared to the results of conventional microbiology for validation. As results, LAMP was specific in the detection of different Salmonella serovars but presented lower limit of detection ranging from 101 to 104 CFU/reaction. In comparison, qPCR could detect less cells (100 to 102 CFU/reaction), reaching equal specificity and better repeatability in the assays. The qPCR multiplexing for identification of the different serovars also showed good specificity, with the detection threshold between entre 101 and 102 CFU/reaction. The results obtained in the analyses on poultry carcasses suggested a correspondence between the results obtained in molecular methods and in conventional microbiology. Thus, the proposed assays are promising for the diagnosis of Salmonella in poultry carcasses, already proved to be faster and more efficient than conventional diagnostics techniques, being of great interest for poultry production, animal, and public health.

Comparison of peroxyacetic acid and acidified sodium chlorite at reducing natural microbial contamination on chicken meat pieces

The spin-chill process at poultry processing plants involves the immersion of chicken carcasses in cold water (<5°C) often containing sodium hypochlorite which significantly contributes to the reduction of bacterial loads. Cutting carcasses into pieces, however, has been linked with increases in Campylobacter and Salmonella counts. Here, the efficacy of PAA and ASC on reducing bacteria on skin-on, bone-in thigh cuts was investigated. Three concentrations of ASC (60, 112, and 225 ppm) and PAA (50, 75, 100 ppm) were used. Thighs were dipped into sanitizer and tested for total viable bacterial counts, Campylobacter load, and prevalence of Salmonella. The efficacy of PAA and ASC was also compared with chlorine (8 ppm). All sanitizers exhibited a greater log reduction compared with water. PAA at both 75 and 100 ppm resulted in significantly higher log reductions compared with the water only. PAA at 100 ppm and 225 ppm ASC were the most effective at reducing Campylobacter. All wash treatments reduced the proportion of Salmonella positive samples, but the greatest reduction was observed for 225 ppm ASC. Both concentrations of ASC resulted in a greater reduction in total viable counts compared with chlorine.

Efficacy of Dietary Supplementation with Zinc-Chromium Mixture, Organic Selenium, or Their Combinations on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Blood Profiles of Broilers under Heat Stress Conditions.

To determine the effects of organic selenium (0.0-0.6 mg and 0.9 mg Se/Kg diet) and Zn-Cr mixture (100 mg Zn/Kg diet plus 1.5 mg Cr/Kg diet) on broiler chicken performance, carcass traits, blood hematology, and biochemistry under heat stress conditions, this study was conducted. Under temperatures between 30.21 to 31.82 °C, 240 broiler chickens (Ross-308), which were 7-day-old, were randomly assigned to one of six treatments: T1 (control), T2 (100 mg Zn per kg of diet and 1.5 mg Cr per kg of diet), T3 (0.6 mg Se per kg of diet), T4 (0.9 mg Se per kg of diet), T5 (100 mg Zn, 1.5 mg Cr and (LSe), and T6 (100 mg Zn, 1.5 mg Cr and (HSe)). At 35 days old, the chicks fed a diet containing Zn-Cr with low or high organic selenium (organic-Se) outweighed the control group in terms of live body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). In comparison to the control treatment, birds fed diets supplemented with Zn-Cr or organic-Se (LSe, HSe) significantly increased their serum levels of total protein and total antioxidant capacity. However, these additives resulted in a decrease (p < 0.01) in their serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, creatinine, and uric acid. Together, it was found that trace elements (Zn-Cr and organic-Se) may greatly lessen the impacts of heat stress on broilers by promoting growth performance and boosting metabolic processes.