backyard poultry farms. This finding suggests that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a concern across all types of poultry farms, regardless of size.
The research findings suggest that antibiotics are commonly used in backyard farms, but not as much in commercial farms. The study can provide insight for both small and large farms on how Salmonella spreads in their systems. Jessica Parzygnat, a Ph.D. graduate from NC State and the first author of the research paper, highlighted the need for more research on backyard broiler farms. These farms, which raise chickens for meat consumption rather than egg consumption, are becoming more popular in the U.S. and there is limited information available about them. This is significant as broiler chickens are the most consumed meat in the U.S. and globally.The CDC has been warning about Salmonella outbreaks from backyard poultry farms for years. They wanted to compare the pathogens found on backyard farms to those on commercial farms. Researchers examined 10 backyard flocks, ranging from 22 to 1,000 birds, all living outdoors. They also looked at 10 commercial farms with tens of thousands of birds living indoors. The study tested bird feces, environmental conditions, and feeders for the presence of Salmonella.
“The research involved the testing of bird fecal samples and environmental samples in order to determine the prevalence of Salmonella on farms,” explained Parzygnat. “The findings revealed that Salmonella was present in 19.1% of samples from backyard farms, which was lower than the 52.3% prevalence on commercial farms. This was in line with previous studies that had also shown lower rates of Salmonella on backyard farms. However, our study found higher rates of Salmonella in backyard farm samples compared to similar studies conducted on backyard poultry in the U.S.”.
“Both types of farm managers must be cautious with their birds,” Parzygnat stated. “There is a belief that backyard birds are safer than commercial birds, but despite finding less Salmonella, the percentage of multidrug-resistant Salmonella in backyard farms and commercial farms was not significantly different.”
According to Parzygnat, simple prevention measures can help consumers avoid the negative effects of Salmonella, such as thoroughly cooking chicken and preventing cross-contamination during handling.
and getting ready poultry.
“Salmonella can naturally reside in the bird’s digestive system and the birds may not display symptoms of sickness,” she explained. “I believe one of the main concerns highlighted in my research is the antibiotic resistance associated with it, as it greatly increases the risk of infection.”
The study is published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. NC State’s Sid Thakur is the corresponding author of the study. Co-authors include Rocio Crespo, Mary Fosnaught and Lyndy Harden from NC State; Muhammed Muyyarrikkandy from South Dakota State University; and Dawn Hull from Walter Reed Army Institute.The research was funded by the USDA NIFA under SAS Grant 410553 and the FDA GenomeTrakr program under grant 5U19FD007113.
