Campylobacter bacteria counts increase after feather picking. This could be coming from contaminated machines, airborne contaminants or cecal discharges.

Campylobacter and Salmonella are leading causes of human bacterial foodborne disease. What is the role of the transport coops in spreading this contamination in broiler chickens?

Broiler transport cage drying and the application of a dry treatment (absorbent cornstarch powder) have been shown in poultry research to diminish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter on transport cages.

Campylobacter cultivation and detection methods to recover injured or stressed cells need to be greatly improved to allow for the development and implementation of more effective intervention strategies. Poultry scientists should question laboratory results and adopt new methods in order to obtain a better understanding of this elusive organism.

From a poultry processing viewpoint, Campylobacter presence in circulating blood of market-age broilers may increase the likelihood of cross-contamination between birds during slaughter.