Broilers were challenged with 10(9) Salmonella typhimurium and then were pr
ovided a glucose-based cocktail supplemented with 0 to 15% glucose during f
eed withdrawal in battery cages or in pens on litter. After feed withdrawal
, broilers were processed, and their crops were aseptically removed and wei
ghed. Crops were then stomached in distilled water, and the pH of the suspe
nsion was measured electronically. Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacteriace
ae, and lactic acid bacteria in the crop suspensions were enumerated on the
appropriate bacteriological medium. Findings indicated that fewer S. typhi
murium and other Enterobacteriaceae were recovered from the crops of broile
rs provided the cocktail supplemented with 7.5% glucose than from the crops
of broilers provided either water or cocktails supplemented with lower or
higher concentrations of glucose. Inhibition of the growth of S. typhimuriu
m and other Enterobacteriaceae in the crops of broilers provided the cockta
il supplemented with 7.5% glucose was generally associated with increased g
rowth of lactic acid bacteria and decreased crop pH. Providing the cocktail
to broilers before shipping to processing plants may reduce the number of
food-borne pathogens that poultry carry into processing plants.