Effect of litter condition on microbiological quality of freshly killed and processed broilers

Two similar trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of litter condition on microbiological quality of freshly killed (feathers intact) and processed broilers. Commercial broilers were reared to 49 days of age on new or previously used litter. Birds in half of the replicate pens were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium via the drinking water on Days 2, 7, 14, and 21. Broilers were sampled at the following processing locations: postkill, postpick, prechill, and postchill. Postchill carcasses from birds raised on previously used litter did not have significantly different aerobic plate counts, levels of coliforms, or numbers of salmonellae as compared with carcasses from birds raised on new litter. Live bird inoculation did significantly increase levels of salmonellae on the fully processed carcass.