Salmonella incidence in broiler and laying hens with the different housing systems

This study was intended to investigate a contamination of Salmonella in broilers (intensive production system) and laying hens with different housing system (conventional and enriched (furnished) cages, aviary) in Lithuania. In total 470 samples, including faeces, dust, water and caecum contents (during slaughtering of broilers) were taken from 6 broiler and 8 laying hen farms for the estimation of the prevalence of Salmonella. The results of investigations of Salmonella spp. indicated that the most infected broiler samples were faeces and caecum (32.9% and 23.1 %, respectively) as to compare with dust and water (14.7% and 10.0%, respectively). No significant differences could be found in prevalence of Salmonella between laying hens reared in conventional and enriched cages and aviary. In most cases the prevalence of Salmonella in broilers was spring; in laying hens - winter, spring and autumn. The prevalent Salmonella serovars found in broilers and laying hens were Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium.