Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of non-pharmaceutical compounds on performance, mortality and prevalence of Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) in broilers challenged with SH.
Methods: Chicks were randomly assigned to water treatments containing organic acids, essential oils, lactic acid, levulinic acid plus sodium dodecyl sulfate, or no added compounds (control). Treatments were administered in drinking water on 0 to 7 and 35 to 42 days. One-half of the chicks were challenged with SH and placed in pens with unchallenged chicks on day one. Performance and mortality were determined during the 42-day study. Prevalence of SHwas determined on drag swabs (0, 14 and 42 days) and in the ceca and crops (42 days).
Results: Broilers receiving essential oils had significantly greater gain and lower mortality than other treatments. Salmonella Heidelberg was absent from drag swabs on day 0, but present at 14 and 42 days. Challenged broilers receiving essential oils and unchallenged broilers receiving essential oils and lactic acid had significantly lower SHin crops than other treatments.
Significance: Essential oils may control SH contamination in crops of broilers when administered in drinking water. Furthermore, essential oils may be an alternative to organic acids in broilers as preslaughter intervention as SH reduction treatment.