System and method for controlling microorganisms associated with poultry

{
  "publication_number": "US5965087A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "System and method for controlling microorganisms associated with poultry",
  "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."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention broadly relates to a system and method for controlling microorganisms associated with poultry. The present invention particularly relates to a method and system for controlling microorganisms on a surface in a hatchery. The present invention further particularly relates to a method and system for controlling microorganisms on the surface of eggs. The present invention further particularly relates to a method of reducing the level of pathogen infection in a poultry flock.\n\nCommercial flocks of poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and the like, can generally be classified as belonging to one of three flocks: the primary (or master) breeding flock, the secondary breeding flock, and the food flock. Poultry eggs can likewise be loosely classified into two general categories, hatching eggs, which are fertile eggs that are to be hatched into chicks (for the breeding flock or the food flock), and table eggs, which can be either fertile or infertile eggs that are intended for direct consumption.\n\nThe food flock, as its name implies, is intended for direct consumption, i.e., these are the birds that are purchased for food at a local grocery store. The secondary breeding flock produces both hatching eggs, from which the food flock is hatched, and table eggs intended for direct consumption. Birds are selected for membership in this flock based upon a number of factors, including the number and size of eggs produced and the characteristics of the birds hatched from these eggs (the food flock).",
  "cpc": [
    "A61L 2/202",
    "A01K 45/007"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01K 45/00",
    "A61L 2/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BOC Group Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Louis D. Caracciolo, Jr."
  ],
  "filing_date": "1996-02-27",
  "publication_date": "1999-10-12",
  "grant_date": "1999-10-12",
  "priority_date": "1996-02-27",
  "application_number": "US-60766296-A",
  "family_id": "24433177",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
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}