Introduction of bacteria in ovo
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsNelson A. Cox, Joseph S. Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for introducing probiotic bacteria into the digestive tract of a bird in order to exclude undesirable bacteria therefrom, and inoculated eggs produced thereby, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fertile bird egg is administered a Salmonella competitive exclusion culture. The culture is preferably administered into the air cell of the egg in an amount effective to colonize the digestive tract of the embryonic bird contained within the egg, and the culture preferably comprises at least one anaerobic bacteria of intestinal origin.
Claims7
A method of introducing viable bacteria into the digestive tract of a bird so as to prevent Salmonella infection comprising administering to the region of the air cell of an egg which contains a viable embryonic bird, a viable unattenuated probiotic bacterial culture obtained form the caecum or large intestine of the digestive tracts of mature birds which are free of Salmonella in an amount effective to colonize the digestive tract of the embryonic bird contained within said fertilized bird egg which is selected from the group consisting of chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, and pheasant egg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.