EP 37 | Paul Flintoff: What Happens When Salmonella Hits a Broiler Farm

In this episode of The Poultry Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings speak with North Yorkshire broiler farmer Paul Flintoff about the serious impact of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak on his farm.Paul explains how a routine day-18 boot swab, taken as part of the National Control Programme, came back as a Group B positive suspect, with confirmation arriving six days later from APHA. By then, the birds were at an age when thinning would normally begin, so the delay added major feed costs and operational pressure. Once confirmed, the flock could not enter the normal food chain, and Paul had to organise on-farm culling, carcass disposal, cleaning and disinfection, and all the practical next steps himself.A key theme in the discussion is how different the response felt compared with avian influenza. Rather than APHA taking control, Paul says much of the burden fell on the farmer to arrange culling, disposal, shed cleanout and future planning. He also warns producers that there may be no restriction on placing the next flock, so it is essential to stay on top of APHA testing dates, especially if medication or management issues could delay sampling and affect thinning plans.Paul shares the lessons he has taken from the experience: tighten biosecurity at every stage, improve clothing and access control between farm areas, communicate early with processors and APHA, and plan for the worst as soon as a suspect result appears. He has since introduced day-one vaccination for Salmonella Typhimurium and says the flock after the outbreak was the best crop the farm has had, showing the value of a truly deep clean.Sponsor’s note: This episode is sponsored by Kersia. Learn more about the Fumagri range here: https://www.kersia.uk/farm-hygiene/fumagri/