01.11.2012

Source: farming UK

More than 125,000 laying hens have been culled at a farm in Northern Ireland following the discovery of Salmonella gallinarum.
A total of 125,000 birds were culled in a cage unit run by Ready Egg Products in Fermanagh when the owner, Charles Crawford, received confirmation of an outbreak of Salmonella gallinarum.
The outbreak was officially confirmed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
The cull has accounted for one third of Charles Crawford’s cage production. He had a total of 375,000 birds in three units on the farm. The culled birds are expected to be replaced in January once the affected unit has undergone an intensive programme of cleaning to ensure it is clear. Charles also has 250,000 free range layers on a different site.
Salmonella gallinarum is a non-motile, Gram-negative bacillus. For many years fowl typhoid was a major problem in poultry flocks throughout the world but in countries with an advanced poultry industry it is now rare and seldom isolated.