Exploring methods to monitor and manage risk of Salmonella introduction into a turkey population

2020 Research Project by Dr. Erin Cortus, UMN‍

Researcher: Erin Cortus, UMN Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
Co-investigator: Marie Culhane, UMN
Industry partners / collaborators: Drs. Ben Wileman and Marissa Studniski, Select Genetics
MTRPC funding amount: $24,000

Project proposal‍

‍Objectives:

The specific goal of the project is to evaluate methods for monitoring sanitation and biosecurity standards in place at turkey breeder farms and commercial turkey grow-out farms to manage risk of Salmonella spp. introduction. We will accomplish this by completing the following objectives during these estimated times.

Objective 1 - July 2020 through September 2020:
Analysis of previously collected camera trap image data to investigate the number and type of wild animal presence and/or increased “traffic” (e.g. of animal, human, or vehicle) by farm type (turkey breeder farms vs. commercial turkey grow-out farms).

Objective 2 – August 2020 through November 2020:
Determine the level of agreement between image data and available farm data, in particular, Salmonella testing results, visitor logs, and rodent trap records for both breeder and commercial farms.

Objective 3 – October 2020 through February 2021:
Calculation of the likelihood of Salmonella introduction for various rates of traffic frequency and traffic types by farm type.

Objective 4 – November 2020 through June 2021:
Develop strategies and tools for mitigating Salmonella introduction risk that incorporate aspects of the data measured and the mitigation measures that are achievable for breeder farms and commercial grow-out farms.