Layers - Salmonella Testing Requirements for Breeder Rearer Units

Post Cleaning and prior to a new flock going into the house:

Please take:

1 gauze swab or sponge pad, from EACH of the following 6 areas PER HOUSE

  • Floors (including cracked areas)
  • Walls (including cracked areas)
  • High beams/ledges and pipe-work
  • Fans & fan housing
  • In-house open feed hoppers/feeders
  • Drinkers

These may be tested in one or more composites.

If a previous flock has tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typimurium. Please see us for an alternative testing kit.

Day Olds

1 chick delivery box liner, per 500 chicks, to a maximum of 10 for every delivery from hatchery. Chick delivery box liners to be sampled on arrival at rearing farm. Selection of samples to represent of all source flocks.
These may be tested in one or more composites.

PLUS – a maximum of 60 Dead on Arrivals from each hatchery.

4 Weeks of Age

A minimum of 2 pairs of boot swabs PER HOUSE
AND
50g dust, or all readily available dust if less available, collected from at least 10 locations in EACH HOUSE before dusting/sweeping. (1 composite per house)

2 weeks prior to Transfer

A minimum of 2 pairs of boot swabs PER HOUSE
AND
50g dust, or all readily available dust if less available, collected from at least 10 locations in EACH HOUSE before dusting/sweeping (1 composite per house)

On Transfer

One or more gauze swab should be used to sample each of the three areas, the truck bed, the crates and the cab and foot-well of the vehicle. The samples may be tested as at least 3 pools (truck bed, crates and cab) and the report should identify the vehicle registration number and the farm on which the samples were taken.

PLEASE NOTE:

All samples should be dispatched within 24 hours of collection. The BEIC Lion Code require all producers to ensure that the time between sampling and the lab starting to process the sample to be no later than 48 hours

For samples that fall outside of this time frame will not be able to have the laboratories UKAS accreditation mark on their salmonella results.

To avoid this please ensure samples are sent and received within 48 hours of sampling, it is therefore, not advisable to send samples on a Friday or Saturday, as they will not be tested until the following Monday, which will result in the 48 hour rule being breached.