Effect of competitive exclusion products, dietary fumaric acid and rearing types on horizontal infection of Salmonella enteritidis in meat chicks

The effect of a competitive exclusion (CE) product, providing fumaric acid (FA) in feed, and rearing types on horizontal infection of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) was evaluated in meat chicks. All chicks were group-fed under differing conditions of rearing types and litter, and some chicks were challenged orally with SE. After 20% of the chicks were challenged with SE (1.2 x 10E5CFU) on day l, horizontal infection was detected among cohabiting chicks on day 6. The frequencies of horizontal infection were higher in floor rearing than in cage rearing. The percent of SE-positive chicks with SE in cecal contents on day 10 was 14.3% in floor rearing and 0% in cage rearing. The frequencies of horizontal infection were low in chicks fed feed supplemented with 1% of FA in cage rearing. The number of live SE organisms decreased in cecal contents of chicks fed feed supplemented with 1% FA. Addition of 1% FA significantly improved the feed demand rate and the body weight in floor rearing with sawdust litter.