Research – Fecal shedding of S. enteritidis by laying hens housed in enriched colony cages at different stocking densities

Poultry Med 

A recent study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that the overall frequency of positive fecal cultures was significantly greater from conventional cages than from enriched colony cages (at the lower stocking density). Likewise, the frequency of S. Enteritidis isolation from feces from conventional cages was significantly greater than from enriched colony cages (at the higher hen stocking density). Moreover, the frequency of S. Enteritidis fecal recovery from enriched colony cages at the higher hen stocking was significantly greater than from similar cages at the lower stocking density. These results suggest that stocking density can affect S. Enteritidis intestinal colonization and fecal shedding in laying hens.