Feeding Malic Acid to Chickens at Slaughter Age Improves Microbial Safety with Regard to Campylobacter.

ABSTRACT: This study supplied malic acid-supplemented drinking water to flocks that were naturally Campylobacter-positive and assessed the effect of feeding malic acid to chickens on Campylobacter reduction and poultry production. In Experiment 1, chickens were provided with malic acid-supplemented drinking water for three weeks. The contamination loads of Campylobacter were decreased by 0.91-0.98 log after the first week of use (p < 0.05). However, this effect did not persist over time and significant decontamination could not be found in the second and third weeks of application. Thus, in Experiment 2 malic acid-supplemented drinking water was given to chickens for a period of five days at slaughter age. The Campylobacter carriage was found to be effectively decreased by 1.05-1.55 log (p < 0.05).

SUBMITTER: Ren F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8300160 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature