Effect of Dietary Al₂(SO₄)₃ on Salmonella Transmission, Feed Consumption and Growth in Immature Replacement Breeders

J.P. Higgins, S.E. Higgins and B.M. Hargis

Alternate-day feed restriction of broiler breeders is known to reduce adult gonadal function and increase ingestion of litter and feces, thereby increasing horizontal transmission of Salmonella. Similarly, preslaughter feed withdrawal increases crop contamination with Salmonella. We hypothesized that dietary Al₂(SO₄)₃ (alum) would reduce voluntary consumption of feed, providing an alternative method of restriction (or preslaughter feed withdrawal). When alum was fed at 10% of the broiler starter diet, body weights were reduced by 67%, with a 60% reduction in feed consumption. In vitro, alum (10%) caused a 3.5 log reduction in Salmonella enteritidis (SE) recovery as compared to controls. In broilers 8 h prior to slaughter using a SE horizontal transmission model, alum (10%) had no effect on recovery of SE from crop or cecal tonsils. In additional experiments, alum (10%) significantly increased SE recovery from cecal tonsils and significantly elevated heterophil to lymphocyte ratios by 14 days of treatment as compared to either pair-fed broilers or controls. In conclusion, these data indicate that dietary alum causes increased stress as compared to daily dietary restriction, does not reduce horizontal transmission of SE, and is not a useful alternative to physical feed restriction.

Corresponding Author:
J.P. Higgins
Department of Poultry Science,
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,
Arkansas 72701, USA