INOCULATION OF BROILER CHICKS WITH A CONTINUOUS-FLOW DERIVED BACTERIAL CULTURE FACILITATES EARLY CECAL BACTERIAL-COLONIZATION AND INCREASESRESISTANCE TO SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM

Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of a continuous-flow (CF) derived bacterial culture and of dietary lactose on colonization level by anaerobic bacteria in the ceca of broiler chicks. Cecal facul tative and strictly anaerobic bacteria colony forming units (CFU), tot al volatile fatty acid (TVFA), lactic and propionic acid concentration s in 3-d-old chicks, and cecal log,, Salmonella typhimurium colonizati on and propionic acid concentrations in l0-d-old chicks were measured. Treatment groups were control diet, 2% lactose diet, CF culture + con trol diet, and CF culture + 2% lactose diet. Groups inoculated with CF culture had decreased (P < 0.05) Salmonella in cecal contents at 10 d of age. The level of Salmonella protection was significantly (P < 0.0 5) correlated with increased cecal bacteria CFU, TVFA, and propionic a cid concentrations in 3-d-old chicks. Results indicated that inoculati ng newly hatched chicks with CF culture containing cecal microflora or iginally obtained from adult chickens, facilitates early cecal coloniz ation by native cecal microflora, and this is associated with protecti on against Salmonella.