Sampling for salmonella control in the pilot developed by the University of Murcia in laying hens

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The pilot at the University of Murcia (UMU) started in November 2022: the University  is working with Isazul breed hens, a breed adapted to the climate of the southeastern Mediterranean. All the pilot process implementation will be followed by social, environmental and economic analysis. Furthermore, nutritional value of the diet and final product quality and microbioma analysis will be performed. Of course, specific controls are not excluded, such as those for salmonella.

Once the pilot study at the University of Murcia began with Isazul breed laying hens (a breed adapted to the Mediterranean climate), periodic Salmonella controls were carried out (approximately every 3 weeks). Sampling was carried out individually for each treatment studied: a control diet (the usual one in these breeds), an alternative diet (with less ingredients with high environmental impact, and more ingredients with less impact) and a third diet incorporating Hermetia Illucens larvae to the alternative diet.

The samples have been obtained by specialized personnel of the company ALIA, which is the coordinator of the SUSTAvianFEED project and have been obtained from all surfaces that may have been in contact with the animals. Some examples of the samples obtained are shown below:  

  • Samples of the floor of the pens, both inside and outside
  • Samples of feeding trough surfaces and pen walls
  • Samples of water drinkers and water
  • Samples of nest surfaces (outside and inside)
  • Samples of the surface of the outdoor area
  • Samples of hangers
  • Sample of nest straw and clean bedding sack
  • Sample of fresh eggs for external and internal egg analysis

All samples were correctly identified prior to analysis

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