HATCHERY-ACQUIRED SALMONELLAE IN BROILER CHICKS

Hatchery contamination can result in exposure of newly hatched chicks to salmonellae at a time when they are most susceptible to colonizatio n of their intestinal tract. Eggshell fragments, external rinses, and intestinal tracts from day-of-hatch chicks were sampled for salmonella e contamination. Chicks from the same hatching trays were then put in isolators or floor pens and fed a pelleted com-soybean ration for 1 wk before external rinses and ceca from each chick were sampled for salm onellae. About 17% of eggshell, 21% of chick rinses, and 5% of intesti nes sampled at Day 0 were positive for salmonellae. No differences wer e observed between broiler hatcheries, but significant differences wer e seen between replications within hatching cabinets. Results from thi s study suggest a correlation between hatchery-acquired salmonellae an d the production of potential seeder birds. No differences between egg shell and chick rinse samples were found (correlation = .81); therefor e, eggshells are recommended as the best sample to determine hatchery salmonellae contamination.