Impact of Stocking Densities on the Microbiota of the Cloaca, Eggshell, and Egg Content of White Egg Layers in Colony Cages
2023
Benjamin N. Alig | Kenneth E. Anderson | Ramon D. Malheiros | Justin H. Lowery | Lin L. Walker
Food safety is a major concern for commercial poultry producers and consumers. Currently, there is also pressure from retailers and legislators to increase the space per hen in cages. Five different density treatments consisting of six (208 in<sup>2</sup>/bird), nine (139 in<sup>2</sup>/bird), twelve (104 in<sup>2</sup>/bird), fifteen (83 in<sup>2</sup>/bird), and eighteen birds (69 in<sup>2</sup>/bird) per cage were examined in colony cage environments. Microbiological tests were performed at 39, 55, and 68 weeks of age. The populations of total aerobic bacteria; <i>E. coli</i>/coliform; Enterobacteriaceae; and yeasts and molds from an eggshell rinse, egg content, and cloacal swabs were enumerated. The prevalence of <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in these samples was also monitored. Overall, no bacteria were detected in any of the egg content, and there were no differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between treatments for the shell rinse. Stocking density did not influence the eggshell microbiota of the hens. Hens housed at 104 in<sup>2</sup> per hen showed higher levels of total aerobic bacterial counts from the cloaca compared to hens at 208 in<sup>2</sup> and 69 in<sup>2</sup> per hen. Hens housed at 139 in<sup>2</sup> per hen had the highest level of cloacal molds. This research demonstrates that stocking density does not influence eggshell microbiota or <i>Salmonella</i> contamination of the eggshell or cloaca, thereby indicating that allowing more space per hen will not positively or negatively affect the prevalence or concentration of foodborne pathogen-associated bacteria in or on the eggs.
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