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ABSTRACT: Current ante mortem inspection involves a check of relevant Food Chain Information (FCI) transmitted by the farmer to the slaughterhouse on a regulatory FCI document. Since 2000, a farm sanitary form with FCI data has been used for all consignments of broiler chickens in France. However, the FCI needs to be standardized for the collection and interpretation of data. A study was conducted to develop an expert system, undertaken to elaborate on a simple decision support system capable of predicting whether the flocks will present a high condemnation risk, based on FCI. For this, 'optimal' (i.e. on-farm survey data) and 'worthy' (i.e. farmers' declaration on existing farm sanitary form) data quality conditions were considered to estimate the lower and upper reference bounds of the confidence that the decision-makers could have in such a tool. Chicken broiler flocks (404) were randomly selected in 15 slaughterhouses located in Western France in 2005. Condemnation proportion and farm sanitary form were collected for each selected flock. Information about health history and technical performances were also specifically collected on farm. Condemnation risk category was modelled from the on-farm collected information, using a Bayesian network and assuming this represented the optimal data quality conditions. Corresponding information declared by the farmer on the existing farm sanitary form was secondly used in the network to evaluate the impact of the uncertainty of such information on the condemnation classification obtained with the expert system. The learnt Bayesian network had 16 explanatory variables pertaining to technical characteristics and sanitary features of the flock. Using a threshold of 1% of condemned carcases to define high risk, the network sensitivity and specificity were 55% and 93%, respectively, corresponding to positive and negative predictive values of 70% and 87%. When declared existing information was used in the network, the sensitivity and specificity were 16% and 96%, respectively, corresponding to positive and negative predictive values of 57% and 80%. Results suggested that the predictive network developed may be insufficient for correctly classifying chicken flocks for targeting of management procedures, and in its current form, the expert system may be unlikely to be implemented in the field. However, it could help to improve the standardization of both form design and FCI interpretation at a national level.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 10/2012; · 2.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endotoxins as components of organic dust may have adverse effects on the respiratory health of workers in poultry buildings. The move towards more welfare-friendly housing systems for layers may increase worker exposure to air contaminants due to the use of litter. The endotoxin concentrations in the inhalable fraction of airborne dust (below 100 µm) from cage and alternative system houses (on-floor, free range and aviaries) were compared under both experimental and commercial conditions. The endotoxin concentration was higher in experimental aviaries (median: 565 EU/m³, range: 362-1491 EU/m³) than in cage housing (98 EU/m³ (51-470)). In field conditions, the endotoxin concentration in the air of 13 alternative houses was higher (35 to 3156 EU/m³) than in cage system buildings (n = 8, 78-576 EU/m³). It was correlated to the respirable dust concentration (fraction below 5 µm) and to the temperature inside the hen house but no seasonal variation was observed. The present study emphasises that considerable worker exposure to endotoxins may occur in laying houses, especially in alternative systems.
British Poultry Science 10/2011; 52(5):523-30. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In recent years, broiler mortality during transport to the slaughterhouse has become a cause for concern because of animal welfare considerations and associated economic losses. A descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was carried out to estimate the extent of DoA in poultry broiler production in the main producing regions of France and to determine factors influencing the DoA rate. Data regarding animal characteristics and rearing, catching, transport and lairage conditions were collected on farm and at the slaughterhouse for 404 chicken broiler flocks processed during 2005. The average DoA rate was 0.18% (from 0% to 1.4%). Variables found to be associated (P < 0.05) with the DoA rate in a multivariable negative binomial model were flock cumulative mortality on farm, the catching system (mechanical being more at risk than manual), the density in crates (more space allowance being associated with less mortality) and climatic conditions (rain and wind being associated with more DoA). Mortality during transport is thus related to all production steps from the farm to the slaughterhouse. Efforts have therefore to be made by all professionals to contain mortality on farm and during catching and transportation.
animal 02/2011; 5(2):287-93. · 1.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: 1. The aim was to assess eggshell contamination in various laying hen-housing systems and to identify factors influencing this contamination. 2. Fifty-eight laying hen farms in France were studied, including 21 flocks housed in conventional cages, 7 in furnished cages and 30 kept on-floor. 3. Sixty eggs per flock were analysed to obtain counts of the total mesophilic flora. Data on equipment and hen management were collected. 4. Mean bacterial count on eggshells tended to be higher in on-floor systems (4.82 +/- 0.51 log CFU/eggshell) than in cage systems (4.57 +/- 0.58 log CFU/eggshell, P = 0.09). 5. Contamination increased with age of the hens, airborne dust concentration, manual packing of the eggs, and packing in plastic rather than in recycled-pulp egg-flats. 6. The effect of the housing system on eggshell contamination, previously described in experimental assays, was confirmed under production conditions.
British Poultry Science 04/2010; 51(2):163-9. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: 1. The aim in this study was to evaluate cleaning and disinfection programmes in battery cage and on-floor layer houses in France. 2. Cleaning and disinfection efficiency was assessed by a visual evaluation of cleaning and a bacteriological monitoring of surface contamination from counts of thermotolerant streptococci on contact agar plates. 3. In battery cage houses, dropping belts, manure conveyors, and house floors remained highly contaminated due to poor cleaning in half of the buildings examined. 4. In on-floor houses, a high standard of cleaning was achieved but errors in the planning of cleaning and disinfection operations sometimes led to a high residual contamination of nest boxes and egg sorting tables.
British Poultry Science 04/2010; 51(2):204-12. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A field study was conducted to estimate the sanitary condemnation proportion in male turkey broiler flocks, to describe the reasons for condemnation and the related macroscopic lesions, and to investigate whether primary production information would predict the risk of condemnation. Male turkey standard broiler flocks (117) were randomly selected in the 13 slaughterhouses located in Western France, from February to July 2006. The flocks were monitored from their arrival at the slaughterhouse until the results of the post mortem sanitary inspection. Information about rearing conditions, health history, catching and loading conditions, transportation to the slaughterhouse and slaughtering was also collected. Sampling design was considered in the calculations and the condemnation proportion was modelled using a negative binomial regression, accounting for clustering within slaughterhouse. The within-flock weighted average condemnation proportion was 1.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.3%). Emaciation, arthritis-polyarthritis and congestion were the main reported official reasons for condemnation, representing 76% of the condemned carcases. Three variables were significantly associated with increased risk of condemnation: observed locomotor disorders on the farm, high cumulative mortality 2 weeks before slaughter, and clinical signs observed by the Veterinary Services during the ante mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse. The final model explained 35% of the total variation in condemnation risk. Half of this explained variation could be attributed to locomotor disorders observed during rearing. The sensitivity and specificity of the model to predict a high flock condemnation risk were 80% and 74%, respectively, when using an optimum threshold of 0.95% to define high risk. The results of this study suggested that the variables found to be associated with condemnation proportion were markers of increased risk and could be used as indicators. These risk indicators can easily be retrieved from the pre-existing regulatory document transmitted before flock arrival at the slaughterhouse and could be used to screen flocks before slaughter, according to their expected risk of condemnation.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 02/2010; 94(3-4):240-50. · 2.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An innovative and well-adapted statistical method, called multiblock redundancy analysis, is proposed for a complex health-event analysis to account for the thematic block organization of variables. The outcome block contained the condemnation rates of 404 broiler chicken flocks, distinguishing infectious and traumatic condemnation categories. Explanatory variables were organized in blocks related to the different production stages (farm structure and routine husbandry practices; on-farm flock history and characteristics; catching, transport and lairage conditions; slaughterhouse and inspection features). The aim was to determine risk factors for both condemnation categories, and the relative impact of the different production stages on the whole condemnation rate. Results showed that significant factors were either specific to one condemnation category or related to both categories, and each of the explanatory blocks was involved in the explanation of infectious and traumatic condemnation rates. On-farm flock information explained 40% of the overall condemnation process whereas the other explanatory blocks had similar relative impacts.
Epidemiology and Infection 09/2009; 138(3):364-75. · 2.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The feasibility of using risk markers to screen broiler chicken flocks and anticipate their risk of condemnation at meat inspection was examined in 404 randomly selected flocks in 15 French slaughterhouses in 2005. Condemnation rate and information about rearing conditions, health history, catching and loading, transport and slaughtering were collected. The Poisson regression model of the condemnation rate consisted of six simple and biologically relevant predictors: production type, frequency of farmer's visits during the starting period, health disorders during rearing, on-farm mortality, mortality during transport, and slaughter-line speed. Although accurate prediction of the condemnation rate for a given flock was not feasible, flocks with low or high risk of condemnation could be distinguished. These findings could be useful at various stages of chicken production, to monitor and improve farm husbandry practices, minimize the impact of transport conditions, and optimize meat inspection procedures.
Epidemiology and Infection 03/2009; 137(8):1086-98. · 2.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In 2003 to 2004, 26 free-range broilers flocks excreting Campylobacter were studied for identification of Campylobacter species and genotype diversity. Seventeen flocks were sampled at the end of the indoor rearing period and 9 before departure to the slaughterhouse after access to an open area. Out of 513 isolates, 315 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 198 as Campylobacter coli. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed 35 genotypes for C. jejuni and 43 genotypes for C. coli; 38.4% of the isolates were clustered into 16 genetic groups. This kind of poultry production system is characterized by a large number of Campylobacter coli isolates. Flocks sampled during the indoor phase were predominantly contaminated by C. jejuni, whereas those sampled during warm months were predominantly contaminated by C. coli. The Campylobacter population was genetically highly diverse: multiple genotypes were detected in a single flock. Six flocks were each found to harbor a mixture of genotypes; these isolates were genetically closely related and were grouped into clusters of at least 80% genetic similarity. Isolates with genotypes found in different flocks and strains, but sharing the same genetic clusters, were detected in different farms and at different times in the year. Flocks sampled during the indoor rearing period and when farmers use fresh farm-made litter were associated with a small number of clusters. In conclusion, Campylobacter species were genetically highly diverse. Our findings suggest the presence of genomic rearrangements in Campylobacter colonizing the chick intestine and that some Campylobacter strains are adapted to poultry. In addition, the species diversity in the flocks was affected by season and cloistering measures. Litter and exposure to an open area were likely sources of flock Campylobacter contamination.
Poultry Science 08/2008; 87(8):1662-71. · 1.73 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A total of 404 broiler chicken flocks processed in 15 slaughterhouses in western France were studied to estimate the condemnation prevalence and describe the official reasons for condemnation and the main macroscopic lesions observed in a sample of the condemned carcases. The condemnation rate was 87 per 10,000 birds slaughtered (95 per cent confidence interval 79 to 95 per 10,000) but differed significantly according to the type of poultry produced (standard, light, heavy or certified). The main reasons for condemnation were emaciation and congestion, with rates of 30 and 22 per 10,000 birds slaughtered, respectively. Congestion was significantly associated with arthritis and ascites, whereas infected skin lesions were associated with bruises and abnormalities of colour, odour or conformation.
The Veterinary record 06/2008; 162(22):709-13. · 1.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to identify risk factors for Campylobacter spp. colonization in French free-range broiler flocks at the end of the indoor rearing period (between 35 and 42 days old). Seventy-three broiler farms were studied from March 2003 to March 2004 in France. A questionnaire was administered to the farmers and samples of fresh droppings were taken to assess the flocks'Campylobacter status by bacteriology. Campylobacter species were determined by PCR. A logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of various factors on flocks'Campylobacter status. 71.2% of the sampled flocks excreted Campylobacter spp. before going out on the range. The risk of a flock being colonized with Campylobacter was increased in the spring/summer period (RR=1.8, p=0.02) and autumn (RR=2.2, p=0.02) compared to winter, on total freedom rearing farms (RR=3.3, p=0.04) in comparison with farms with a fenced run, when the first disinfection of the poultry-house was performed by the farmer (RR=2.4, p=0.04) instead of a hygiene specialist, when rodent control was carried out by a contractor (RR=1.8, p<0.01) and not by the farmer and when the farmer came into the house twice a day as opposed to three time a day or more (RR=1.5, p=0.02). Use of a specific gate for chick placement decreased the risk of a flock being colonized with Campylobacter (RR=0.5, p=0.01) in comparison with using the gate for manual disposure or the door of the change room.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 06/2007; 80(1):34-48. · 2.05 Impact Factor
