Reusing poultry litter can reduce antibiotic-resistant Salmonella

When many of us hear about bacteria, we associate it with illness. However, certain bacteria can be helpful in preventing disease, not causing it. For example, consuming probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, to improve gut health has risen in popularity in recent years, both for human and animal wellness. A joint research collaboration between the University of Georgia’s Department of Poultry Science and the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, housed within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, has been investigating the role that bacteria plays in poultry health and food safety. New research from this group has found that the type of litter broiler chickens are raised on plays an important role in their pre-harvest health. Read more