A growing niche in the locally grown food movement is the small-scale production of
broiler chickens using the pasture-raised poultry production model. Limited research
exists that focuses on Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in the environment
associated with on-farm processing of pasture-raised broilers. The objective of this
study was to establish data relative to Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence and
concentration in soil and mortality compost resulting from prior processing waste
disposal in the small-scale, on-farm broiler processing environment. Salmonella and
Campylobacter concentrations were determined in soil (n = 42), compost (n = 39), and
processing wastewater (PWW; n = 46) samples from 4 small broiler farms using a 3-tube
most probable number (MPN) method for Salmonella and direct plating method for Campylobacter.
Salmonella prevalence and concentration (mean log10 MPN per sample weight or volume)
in soil [60%, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.66 to 1.27)], compost [64%, 0.95 (95% CI: 0.66 to 1.24)],
and wastewater [48%, 1.29 (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.71)] were not significantly different
(P > 0.05). Although Campylobacter prevalence was not significantly different by sample
type (64.3, 64.3, and 45.7% in soil, compost, and PWW, respectively), the concentration
(mean log10 cfu) of this pathogen was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in wastewater
[2.19 (95% CI: 0.36 to 3.03)] samples compared with soil [3.08 (95% CI: 2.23 to 3.94)],
and compost [3.83 (95% CI: 2.71 to 4.95)]. These data provide insight into small-scale
poultry production waste disposal practices and provides a record of data that may
serve as a guide for future improvement of these practices. Further research is needed
regarding the small-scale broiler production environment in relation to improving
disposal of processing waste for optimum control of human pathogens.