Silver lining for poultry cloud

A recent trial has shown that protecting chicken crates with antimicrobial silver can help reduce the risk of Campylobacter cross-contamination during the transportation of poultry flocks.

Anglia Autoflow, a UK supplier of poultry transportation crates, has introduced a new range of crates with BioCote antimicrobial protection. Once BioCote silver ion technology has been incorporated into the crates at the manufacturing stage it can inhibit the growth of bacteria, such as Campylobacter, on their surface.

In the trial, BioCote compared the levels of bacteria and Campylobacter contaminating standard crates to those found on BioCote-treated crates. Swabs were collected in triplicate from 10 treated and 10 untreated crates at key points in the crate decontamination process.

BioCote-treated crates were shown to be less contaminated than standard crates, indicating that the protection is sustainable throughout the cycle, from the crate's contact with flocks, to the decontamination process and re-contact with the flocks.

Anglia Autoflow's sales director Barry Landymore says: "By reducing the level of Campylobacters being transported around the poultry rearing and processing system we aim to reduce the risks of Campylobacter outbreaks faced by farmers and food processors."