Antibiotic reduction in the poultry industry

by Rebecca Sherratt, Features Editor, Milling and Grain

Earlier in April, Milling and Grain attended Biomin’s webinar ‘Antibiotic Reduction Experiences in the UK Poultry Industry’. This webinar discussed antibiotic stewardship and the gut microbiome was discussed by Dr Daniel Parker, Senior Veterinarian in Slate Hall Veterinary, UK.

Dr Parker opened his discussion by first referencing the British Poultry Council (BPC). The BPC was established in 2011 and manages standardisation, trade and policymaking for the UK poultry industry. Dr Parker also addressed the common misconception that the goal of antibiotic stewardship is to use absolutely no antibiotics. The aim of antibiotic stewardship is, in fact, to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance to “preserve the limited armoury of antibiotics we have available”.

 

Sales of antibiotics in the UK farming sector have seen a decline over the past few years, which Dr Parker expressed as a very positive change for the industry. In 2012, sales of antibiotics for animals exceeded 450 tonnes in the UK, which reduced to less than 250 tonnes by 2017, a rate which continues to drop year-on-year.

Overall, antibiotic reduction has been a success story in the UK poultry industry. In the past six years we have seen an 80.2 percent reduction in the total use of antibiotics, with an 82.6 percent decrease in the use of critically important antibiotics in poultry.

Challenges in antibiotic reduction

There are many challenges associated with reducing the use of antibiotics in broilers, and these can be difficult to manage. Dr Parker noted that it becomes increasingly vital that broilers have access to a good environment, quality feed and optimal biosecurity which “in practice, is not as easy to achieve as when put onto paper”. One point that Dr Parker placed great emphasis on was the importance of stricter cleaning measures. High pressure flushing is necessary to reduce the risk of diseases taking hold.

The UK government has taken steps to provide farms with incentives to provide safe conditions for their livestock. Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI) reward farmers for adopting green energy systems. The indirect heating provided through traditional green energy systems creates a safer environment for poultry and is proven to decrease risk of coccidiosis and improve gut health. 

Read more HERE.

 

The Global Miller
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