Comparative Study of Microbiological Quality of Raw Poultry Meat at Various Seasons and for Different Slaughtering Processes in Casablanca (Morocco)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bacterial quality of chicken (n = 96) and turkey (n = 96) marketed in Casablanca, Morocco. Poultry samples (n = 192) were collected randomly from traditional shops and supermarkets during 2 sampling periods (hot and cold seasons). The samples were analyzed for the presence and counts of various bacteria. Results indicated that aerobic plate counts and fecal coliforms were particularly high in all the samples analyzed. Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes were detected, respectively, in 48.4, 10.4, 7.2, 1.6, and 0.5% of the poultry meat samples. The chicken and turkey samples contained, respectively, 25 and 33.3% of bacteria above the maximum limits established by the Moroccan regulatory standards. The highest bacterial counts in poultry meat product samples were recorded with the traditional slaughtering process during the hot season (P < 0.05). These high levels of microbial contamination and occurrence of pathogenic bacteria reflect the poor hygienic quality of poultry meat under these conditions.     

Effect of Lactose as a Prebiotic on Turkey Body Weight Under Commercial Conditions

The effect of a commercially available lactic acid bacteria probiotic (FM-B11) alone and supplemented with lactose as prebiotic was evaluated for effects on turkey BW during the brooding and growout phases under commercial conditions in 2 experiments. Tag-numbered turkey poults were given the probiotic in either drinking water or feed, and lactose was given in feed. Turkeys were reared in wire pens (4 per treatment) within the brooding house. Experiments were designed for a duration of 26 and 28 d. Only animals from experiment 1 were weighed again before slaughter. Results from both experiments indicate that groups treated with the combination of probiotic and lactose and lactose alone were heavier (P < 0.05) by 15.5 and 17.5% in experiments 1 and 2, respectively, as compared with the control groups. Market BW of turkeys from experiment 1 was higher (P < 0.05) with the combination of probiotic and lactose than the control group by 436 g. Turkeys on the probiotic alone tended to be heavier than the controls (P = 0.0693). The administration of this lactic acid bacteria-based probiotic, supplemented with lactose as prebiotic to turkey poults during the brooding phase, increased BW, and this advantage was further maintained or augmented during the growout phase.     

Water Use and Reuse in Commercial Turkey Processing Facilities

A survey of turkey processing facilities was conducted to determine the average volume of water used per bird during processing, the average amount of recycled processing water, and the types of poultry processing antimicrobial treatments. Ninety-three surveys were sent out to turkey processing facilities in the United States. Twenty-six surveys were completed and returned (28%). The combined processing capacity of the 26 facilities that responded to the survey was approximately 1.03 million birds per day or 71% of the total US turkey production (252 million annually). Most of the facilities that responded to the survey reported operating 5 d each week using city water (85%) and discharging wastewater through the city sewer system (77%). The average amount of water used during processing was reported to be approximately 30 gal per turkey—an increase of 23% with the implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program. Approximately 92% of the respondents reported using a cage or truck washing station. Thirty-one percent of the facilities reported that they recycle processing water. Data from the present survey may be of interest to turkey processing facilities that want to establish a water conservation program.     

Low‐mobility sperm phenotype in the domestic turkey: Impact on sperm morphometry and early embryonic death

The sperm mobility assay measures the ability of sperm to swim through a dense layer of Accudenz^®, and the sperm mobility phenotype has been shown to predict fertility and other sperm performance traits in roosters and turkeys. In this study, we examined turkey sperm morphometry and rates of early embryonic death associated with high‐ and low‐mobility semen. We also assessed whether the hypo‐osmotic stress test, which evaluates the structural integrity of the sperm plasma membrane, may be used as a faster and simpler assay for sperm mobility and viability. We confirmed previous work that found that high‐mobility sperm are faster and swim more linearly than low‐mobility sperm, and that mobility traits were repeatable within males. In contrast to previous studies, we did not find higher rates of fertility, but low‐mobility sperm was associated with higher rates of early embryonic death, though this trend was not significant. High‐mobility sperm had longer sperm heads, explained by longer nuclei, despite shorter acrosomes. Although these sperm were faster, midpiece length and flagellum length did not differ between high‐ and low‐mobility sperm. Finally, mobility was not found to be associated with sperm performance in the hypo‐osmotic stress test.     

The response of growing native turkeys to different feed colours and forms

A total number of 180 1‐day old native turkey chicks were chosen in this study, for evaluating the impacts of using different attracting colours and forms of the offered feed on growth performance, carcass traits and some of health aspects, in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design. The birds were allocated into three main groups according to feed colour (non‐coloured, orange and green feeds), then each main group was divided to three subgroups corresponded to feed form (mash and crumbles feed) respectively. The obtained results indicated that feed colours and forms changed significantly the final body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion, gizzard percentage, meat juiciness, plumage conditions and mortality rate. However, there were no significant differences among the treatments in carcass traits, meat quality (percentages of heart, liver, abdominal fat colour, flavour and tenderness) and body temperature. Significant interactions of feed colours × forms groups were existed in most studied traits except in feed consumption, giblets, meat quality traits, plumage conditions and body temperature. Finally, considering the obtained results, it was observed that the native turkeys prefer green feed as crumbles over non‐coloured or mash feed. Consequently, feeds for turkey chicks should be in green mash or crumbles during the growing period to maximize the profit.     

The association between extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillin C (AmpC) beta-lactamase genes with multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli isolates recovered from turkeys in Brazil

1. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between Escherichia coli isolates recovered from turkeys and the expression of beta-lactamase genes, such as extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillin class C (AmpC). The phenotype of the resistance profile was examined using the association between amoxicillin and ceftiofur resistance.

2. Results showed that 84% from the turkey isolates harboured 4 or 5 genes associated with the CoIV plasmid. In an antibiogram test, 82% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, the highest levels of resistance being against erythromycin (99%) and amoxicillin (76.1%). ESBL-positive groups were 31% positive for the ctx-m-2 gene, 6.8% were positive for ctx-m-8 and 70% harboured the tem wild gene.

3. All positive isolates from the AmpC beta-lactamase-positive group harboured the cmy-2 gene. The presence of the cmy-2 gene was associated with both the CTX-group genes and resistance to ceftiofur.

4. There was a high prevalence of avian pathogenic E. coli in suspected cases of colibacillosis in turkeys and a high antimicrobial resistance index. The results highlighted the risk of ceftiofur resistance and the presence of both ESBL and AmpC beta-lactamase E. coli in the turkey production chain.     

Effects of vaccine dose, virus challenge dose and interval from vaccination to challenge on protection of broiler chickens against Marek's disease virus challenge

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of varying the doses of turkey herpesvirus (HVT) vaccine and Marek's disease virus (MDV) challenge at two intervals after vaccination on the protection of chickens against challenge with MDV. DESIGN AND PROCEDURE: Experiment 1, a dose response study, consisted of 11 doses of HVT vaccine administered at hatch followed by challenge with 100 plaque forming units (pfu) of MDV 5 days post vaccination. Experiment 2, a 2 x 6 x 2 factorial design, included two HVT vaccine types, six different doses of HVT vaccine and 50 pfu and 200 pfu of MDV challenge 2 days post vaccination. All chickens were reared up to day 56 post challenge when all survivors were killed humanely. Dead and killed chickens were examined for gross MD tumours. RESULTS: Experiment 1 showed a significant positive linear relationship between dose of HVT vaccine and protective index in chickens challenged 5 days post vaccination. However the range of protective index observed was limited. In Experiment 2 neither HVT vaccine provided significant protection at any dose. There was no significant effect of vaccine type or MDV challenge dose on overall protection against challenge. Chickens challenged with 200 pfu of MDV had significantly higher mortality and MD incidence than those with 50 pfu. CONCLUSIONS: HVT vaccine dose had a significant impact on protective index, but vaccination to challenge interval appeared to have greater impact on the protective efficacy of vaccination. A fourfold increase in challenge dose increased mortality rate and incidence of MD.     

Influence of Hen Age and Number of Inseminated Sperm on the Number of Holes Hydrolyzed in the Inner Perivitelline Layer of Turkey Eggs

Eggs from young turkey breeder hens have a higher rate of early embryonic mortality (EEM) than eggs from older hens. Preliminary field data indicated that increased sperm concentration decreased the incidence of EEM in eggs from young hens. Possible explanations for decreased EEM following insemination with more concentrated sperm may include altered sperm binding and hydrolyzing of the inner perivitelline layer (IPVL) of eggs from hens of different ages. The current study examined differences in the number of sperm penetration (SP) holes hydrolyzed in the IPVL in hens at 2 different ages when inseminated with 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, or 800 million viable sperm. Hens (12/treatment) were inseminated on d 14 and 21 after photostimulation (32 and 33 wk of age) and were inseminated again at 12 and 13 wk of egg production (44 and 45 wk of age). The SP holes hydrolyzed in the IPVL were counted in the 1,098 eggs produced in the 3 wk following each insemination period. The number of SP holes hydrolyzed in the IPVL was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in younger hens than older hens. Furthermore, the number of SP holes was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.01) with the 400 and 800 million insemination doses as compared with the other 4 insemination doses. There was no interaction between hen age and sperm insemination dose. In conclusion, the absence of an interaction between hen age and insemination dose suggests that factors other than numbers of sperm binding to the IPVL influence EEM. These factors may be a combination of oviduct influences and IPVL properties that change as the hen ages.