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Birds as Potential Carriers of Salmonella
on Dairies
 J. Kirk, J. Jeffrey, and R. Atwill, Veterinary Medicine Extension,
Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC); C. Holmberg,
VMTRC, Tulare; D. Willoughby, California Department of Food and
Agriculture
Dairymen often associate birds seen on their dairies with outbreaks of
disease in their cattle.
Problem: No definite information is available to indicate whether birds
are carriers of disease organisms that might infect cattle or become a
public health problem.
Approach: Birds are being netted on dairies with the help of the
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Results:
 About 5% of the birds have cultured positive for Salmonella.
30% have cultured positive for Campylobacter.
One group of 10 Starlings had three E. coli O157-positive birds; all others have been negative for E. coli O157.
The Salmonella-positive birds are exposed to non-dairy farm resident
birds (Brewer's blackbirds, cow birds), which tend to congregate on the
dairies during the winter months. Resident birds (sparrows, house finches
and starlings) have been Salmonella negative.
The study is ongoing, and attempts will be made to correlate bacteria
found in the birds with bacteria found in the feeds.
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