A SURVEY INTO THE PREVALENCE OF POULTRY HELMINTHS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMERCIAL BROILER-CHICKENS

A 12-month survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of poultry helminths in Northwest Arkansas commercial broiler chickens. Intestin al tracts from market-ready broilers were collected weekly from two co mmercial broiler companies; a total of 3542 intestinal tracts were col lected for parasite enumeration from 67 company A and 52 company B far ms. Ascaridia galli was found on 37.3% of company A farms and 3.9% of company B farms, Raillietina cesticillus was found on 67.2% of company A farms and 69.2% of company B farms, and Heterakis gallinarum was fo und on 7.5% of company A farms and 1.9% of company B farms. No other p arasitic helminths were found. No significant relationship was detecte d between grow-out feed efficiency and helminth infection rate or magn itude.