Effect of pre-slaughter feed withdrawal on contaminano & of broiler meat with feed-born pathogens in broilers

Pre-slaughter feed withdrawal as a common practice in commercial farms has an obvious effect on voiding of bird's feces and reduction in the risk of cross contamination of external parts of birds during handling, transportation and processing. At the same time, starvation of birds positively affects the colonization of bird's crop by the most dangerous feed born pathogens. Among the several concerned pathogens. Salmonella and Campylobacter were subjected to more study. A review of literature revealed that feeding patterns such as feed withdrawal were obviously related to increase of these pathogens. Besides, some studies showed that crop was several times more susceptible to colonization by pathogens than other parts of the carcass, such as cloaca, ceca and intestines, and also more prone to rupture during processing. Exact control of pre-slaughter fasting time and feeding of acidic components or bactericide chemicals can significantly reduce the problem of colonization of pathogens in crop of birds during starvation.