Effect of Dietary Lactose on Salmonella Colonization of Market-Age Broiler Chickens

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Abstract
The effect of providing lactose in feed and inoculation with volatile fatty acid-producing anaerobic cultures (AC) of cecal flora on Salmonella typhimurium colonization was evaluated in broilers. One-day-old chicks were divided into four groups and provided 1) no lactose, no AC; 2) AC, no lactose; 3) AC and lactose on days 1-10; or 4) AC and lactose on days 1-40. All groups were challenged per os with 106 Salmonella on day 3 and with 108 Salmonella on day 33. Salmonella growth in the cecal contents was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) on day 10 in the chicks provided lactose from day 1-10. However, after the removal of lactose from the diet, the chicks were susceptible to Salmonella colonization. The number of Salmonella in the ceca was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the chicks provided lactose throughout the 40 day growing period. Dietary lactose decreased the pH of the cecal contents and was accompanied by marked increases in the concentrations of undissociated bacteriostatic volatile fatty acids in the cecal contents.