System and method for controlling microorganisms associated with poultry

• US 5,965,087 A
• Filed: 02/27/1996
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BOC Group Pty Limited (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: BOC Group Pty Limited (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Caracciolo, Louis D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKANE, ELIZABETH L
• Application Number:
  US08/607,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 422/28, 422/123, 422/292, 119/6.8, 119/300, 119/651, 119/677, 426/320
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/007 Injecting or otherwise treating hatching eggs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling microorganisms on a surface in a hatchery. The present invention is also directed to a system and method for controlling microorganisms on the surface of eggs. The present invention is further directed to a method for reducing the level of pathogen infection in a poultry flock.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the level of pathogen infection in poultry comprising the steps of providing a source of ozone and contacting eggs to be hatched with an effective amount of said source of ozone for a time sufficient to control microorganisms on the surfaces of the eggs, and contacting the eggs with a poultry gut serum following said contact with a source of ozone, and further comprising the step of allowing hatching chicks to pip out and consume said poultry gut serum.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the poultry gut serum is a natural poultry gut serum.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the source of ozone is selected from ozonated air and gaseous ozone.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the poultry gut serum implants in the gut of the hatching chicks.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of the source of ozone is sufficient to provide an ozone concentration of from 2 ppm to 4 ppm.

6. The method according to claim 1 operated at ambient pressure.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the ambient pressure is atmospheric pressure.

8. A system for controlling microorganisms comprising means for regulating an atmosphere surrounding a surface of an egg, means for introducing a source of ozone into this atmosphere, and further comprising means for detecting pip out of the egg, wherein said atmosphere is at atmospheric pressure.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the means for introducing a source of ozone is an ozone generator.

10. The system according to claim 8 further comprising means for reducing the concentration of ozone and means for introducing oxygen-rich air into the atmosphere.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein the amount of the source of ozone is sufficient to provide an ozone concentration of from 2 ppm to 4 ppm.