Higher exposure to Salmonella increases feed intake and reduces feed conversion in poultry production.

Furthermore, the serotype Salmonella Reading (S. Reading) shows greater colonization than other common serotypes by the end of production, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.

Researchers fed 360 broilers a “cocktail” of three Salmonella serotypes known to cause illness in humans — Reading, Infantis and Typhimurium — at low, medium and high doses, to assess the impact on production parameters.

Bird and feeder weights were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 35, while ceca, liver and spleen samples were taken on days 2, 7 and 35 to assess the level of colonization by the bacteria.

Read more on this study: Poultry Health Today.