Poultry Farm Hygiene: Microbiological Quality Assessment of Drinking Water Used in Layer Chickens Managed under the Battery Cage and Deep Litter Systems at Three Poultry Farms in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Water troughs from deep litter and caged chicken water troughs (drinkers) fixed to each of the different 3-tier cages containing layer chickens in Farms A, B and C were subjected to a 7-day study which involved the monitoring of poultry farm hygiene. Drinkers were washed before filling with water on Day 1. For Days 3, 5 and 7 water was served without prior washing. The occurrence and characterization of the bacteria isolates were investigated and data obtained were analyzed and compared. For the bacterial count on Day 1, for layer chickens on cage system, no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the farms and between the farms tier interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Day 5, there was significant difference (p<0.05) among the farms and on Day 7, there was high significant difference (p < 0.01) among the farms. On Days 5 and 7, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the tiers nor between the interactions of the farms and tiers. The bacterial count in water troughs of layer chickens in deep litter system, on Day 1, had no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the farms, water troughs and their interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Days 5 and 7, there were significant difference (p<0.05) and a high significant difference (p < 0.01) between the farms respectively. On Days 5 and 7, no significant differences between the water troughs and between the interaction of the farms and the water troughs. Farm A isolates contained Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus salivarius and Corynebacterium sp. Farm B had Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis and Klebsiella sp. while for Farm C, apart from the prevalent bacteria isolates obtained in Farms A and B, additional 2 bacterial isolates, Lactobacillus salivarius and Pseudomonas aeuriginosa were found. In conclusion, water troughs when cleaned on daily basis carry minimum bacterial load. Those left for 3, 5 and 7 days uncleaned had progressively high bacterial loads, suggesting that the flock of birds and the consumers of the eggs and meat from the chickens are at risk of bacterial infection unless strict farm hygiene is ensured through regular monitoring.

Salmonella serovars and their distribution in Nigerian commercial chicken layer farms

“…The high prevalence of Salmonella in water (although water was the least contaminated of the five matrices we studied) is of particular concern since every time the birds drink the water they are exposed to its microbial load. Water can be contaminated in two major ways; a) the water supply itself, especially when the water source is from well water or surface water, or b) bacterial contamination of water supply as a result of poor hygiene management [31]. …”

Diversity and Antibiotic Resistance of Enterobacteria Isolated From Broilers in a Poultry Farm of Perm Krai: А 14-Year Study

“…Эта проблема приобретает особую актуальность в связи с увеличением числа заболеваний, передающихся через пищевые продукты (2,3). Обеспечение эффективной защиты сельскохозяйственной птицы от инфекционной па-тологии было и остается одной из основных задач ветеринарии (4,5).…”

Hygiene Conditions and Animal-Environment Relations in Farm Animals Barns

“…The results indicate that the application of hygiene measures significantly reduced campylobacter infections of broiler flocks on both farms. Folorunso et al (2014) subjected a study to a 7-day which involved the monitoring of poultry farm hygiene. They took samples from water troughs from deep litter and caged chicken water troughs (drinkers) in three different poultry farms.…”