Purpose: This study compares different levels of stress associated to on-farm and pre-slaughtering practices and evaluates their influence on pathogens fecal shedding and consequent contamination in broiler carcasses.
Methods: Ten farms belonging to an Italian poultry company, all positive for Campylobacter infection, were selected for study. The Welfare Quality® protocol was used to cluster farms into two groups, based on 14 Animal Welfare (AW) indicators. At the time of slaughtering, flocks from different AW groups were tested for Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Detection and enumeration were carried out using ISO or validated methods.
Results: Four flocks from four different farms have been followed to the slaughterhouse. Two flocks were classified as “higher welfare” (HW) and two “lower welfare” (LW). The frequency of Campylobacter in cloacal swabs increased after long transports, with statistically significant differences compared to shorter transports. No statistically significant difference in Campylobacter levels between HW and LW flocks was reported in caecal contents (8.45 vs 7.40 log10 CFU/g) or on carcass skin (1,865 vs 858 CFU/g). Widespread Salmonella Infantis contamination was found, only, in LW flocks; this could have influenced Campylobacter levels. Lower welfare could have favored Salmonella contamination.
Significance: The use of 'animal welfare-friendly' management methods able to reduce carcass contamination could be an innovative tool for poultry industries to improve the microbiological quality of their products. Considering some statistically significant evidence achieved, so far, our preliminary results point in this direction. This three-year research project should be concluded before 2018. Therefore, more data will be produced to further confirm or reject this theory.