Abstract
Three commercial strains bred in the US (Hubbard), Holland (Lohman), and Canada (Shaver) and Balady breed of chickens were orally infected with $10^6$ cfu of Salmonella gallinarum per chick. Chicks were compared for weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate and contamination of the liver, spleen and intestine with Salmonella gallinarum on the day of slaughter. The Balady chicks had significantly the lowest mortality rate (p<0.01) and weight gain (p<0.001) and poorest feed conversion ratio (p<0.001). Salmonella gallinarum could be shed from the liver, spleen and intestine with alternative rates in all strains. Lohman was the most resistance over the other two commercial strains, while Hubbard had the highest susceptibility. The Balady chicks were the most resistance. However, they may serve as a possible reservoir of Salmonella gallinarum and it may play a role of spreading the infection to the commercial farms in Jordan.