View source

[[Image:Shed-preparation.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Preparing a shed for the next flock of broilers. Source: ACMF]]
'''Title:''' Re-use of chicken litter across broiler cycles – managing the food-borne pathogen risk

'''Project Leader:''' [[Chinivasagam, Nalini|Nalini Chinivasagam]] at [[Organisations#Queensland_Department_of_Primary_Industries_and_Fisheries:_Poultry|QDPI&F]] funded by [[Poultry CRC]] (Project 05-16)
  	
'''Duration of Project:''' Now completed (1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008)

===Project overview===
Poultry litter can contain a number of pathogens that are a risk to public health. The pathogens that are of most concern are Campylobacter jejuni/coli and Salmonella spp. Litter resources are limited and expensive, with perceptions that the re-use of litter across flock cycles results in the build up of food-borne pathogens in the chicken. There are also concerns regarding the re-use of litter in the environment.

====Project objectives====
*Deliver data to understand pathogen survival in litter between broiler cycles;
*Develop simple in-shed strategies to manage pathogen levels between cycles; and
*Develop a code of practice for the re-use of litter between flocks developed with industry participation.

===Project progress===
This project is now completed and a final report will soon be available from the [[Poultry CRC]].

Current in shed treatment of litter between sequential broiler cycles involves the pile up of litter between cycles.  A series of experimental studies on two commercial farms has been carried out on these piles testing for the presence and levels of key pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. As well, other physical parameters such as temperature have been determined during the life of the pile. These studies have demonstrated that pathogen die-off does occur prior to the spread of this litter for the next cycle - a pathogen carryover was not detected.  Temperatures conducive for pathogen die-off were reached, though other biological and physical factors may also be contributing to the process of pathogen die-off.

Further experimental work was also carried out on spread litter over the subsequent broiler cycle. In this work, the levels of key pathogens as well as physical parameters (such as moisture and temperature) were examined in both the brooder end of the shed (new litter) as well as the grow-out end (re-used litter). These studies were performed on both farms. 

== See also ==

*[[Research/Role of voluntary litter consumption by broiler chickens on gut function and gut health|Poultry CRC Project 06-18: Role of voluntary litter consumption by broiler chickens on gut function and gut health]] 
*[[Poultry litter]] 
*[[Chicken meat (broiler) industry]] 
*[[Meat chicken farm sequence]]


[[Category:Research_&_Development]] [[Category:Environment]] [[Category:Chicken_meat_industry]]