Effect of Dietary Lactose and Cell Concentration on the Ability of a Continuous-Flow-Derived Bacterial Culture to Control Salmonella Cecal Colonization in Broiler Chickens

Abstract The effect of dietary lactose and of cell concentration of a continuous-flow (CF) derived bacterial culture on Salmonella typhimurium cecal colonization in 10-d-old broiler chickens was examined. One-day-old chicks were provided 1) no CF culture and the control diet; 2) no culture and a 2% lactose diet; 3) CF culture (108 or 1011 anaerobic cfu) and control diet; or 4) CF culture (108 or 1011 anaerobic cfu) and 2 to 4% lactose diet. All groups were challenged orally with 104S. typhimurium at 3 d of age. Salmonella typhimurium growth in cecal contents was significantly decreased (P