POULTRY

INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE

NO.

2 H E A LT H
TODAY
P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M

SUSTainabiliT y
What on earth does

7 it really mean?

and how does it apply

to poultry health?
Sanderson’s
Phil Stayer:
Sustainability
‘nothing new’

20
Technically,
all poultry in
the US is
‘antibiotic free’

26
Prevention claims
essential for
ensuring flock
health, welfare

27

US edition
ZP130544
 INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
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w h at ’ s i n s i d e

cover STory WORDS & NUMBERS

4
10
7 54300
Memorable quotes and figures
from the world of poultry health

sUstainaBiLitY What on earth does it really mean?

SOUND SCIENCE
5

And how does it apply to poultry health?

You can’t pick up a farm or business journal these days without being • Temperature of drinking
water may affect bodyweight
assaulted by what could easily be the buzzword of the decade: Sustainability. during brooding

Poultry Health Today editors cut through the rhetoric, sought opinions from • Link between fishmeal,
Eimeria and necrotic enteritis
scientists and examined the numbers to learn how the concepts of sustainability in broilers explored

apply to day-to-day, flock-health programs.

• S. enteritidis frequency in eggs
similar in conventional and
enriched cage systems

• Cracked corn has positive

effect in broilers

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M

Sponsored by
 2

REALITY CHECK
26 DISCOVERIES
30 THE REAL
WORLD

RE AL IT Y
20
‘SUSTainabiliT y iS
Poultry Health Today checked into Zoetis scientists recently presented
more findings from their ongoing
really noThing neW
whether poultry raised without
antibiotics was more wholesome research programs to improve poultry for PoUlTry’
than meat from medicated birds. health and welfare.
Sanderson Farms veterinarian
Phil Stayer supports the industry’s
push for more sustainability, but
he doesn’t think it’s a new trend
when it comes to managing
RULES & REGS
27 THE LAST WORD
31 poultry health. “You want a low
carbon footprint?” he asks.
“Maximize your feed efficiency;
avoid waste; find ways to be
more efficient.”

‘rotate Smarter’
Greg Mathis, PhD, urges
producers to think twice when
juggling anticoccidials.
Judiciously using some antimicrobials Never say never:
to prevent — not just to treat and Timothy Cummings, DVM, applauds
control — poultry disease is still the antibiotic-free trend while Program UrgeS
advocated by FDA and veterinarians sharing a few words of caution. long-term Planning
for protecting flocks against some
for coccidioSiS
Zoetis recently launched a new
ubiquitous gut diseases.
science-based initiative aimed at
developing more sustainable
coccidiosis-management programs.
INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
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WORDS & NUMBERS

10
54 300
6.2
The carbon footprint index for chicken, compared to 16.2 for beef,
12.0 for lamb and 9.0 for pork.
SoUrce: 2020: The chicken can feed The World

“ If we don’t respect the feelings of consumers and other stakeholders,

they’re not going to respect us. What we’re finding is we can’t speak to
them as if we’re arguing policy issues. Even if their feelings aren’t
rational, they’re still valid as feelings.

”
Joe forSThoffer, direcTor of corPoraTe commUnicaTionS, PerdUe farmS

Number of progeny produced by one coccidial oocyst

in 4 to 7 days.
SoUrce: overvieW of coccidioSiS in PoUlTry, MERCK VETERINARY MANUAL 500,000+
34 Percent of Americans who feel the agriculture industry is transparent
on production practices — up from 22% in 2012.
SoUrce: foodThink, emerging faiTh in food ProdUcTion, march 2014

“ “No legislation or regulation can keep bacteria from existing…

The only way to ensure our food is safe 100% of the time is by
following science-based procedures when raising/growing,
83.6
Pounds per capita of chicken consumed
processing, handling and cooking it.” by Americans, more than anyone else in

”
Tom SUPer, naTional chicken coUncil
the world.
SoUrce: broiler chicken indUSTry key facTS,
The naTional chicken coUncil

4
 2

SOUND SCIENCE
“Both fishmeal feeding and Eimeria infection induced
significant changes in the gut microbiota; these changes
may play an important role in predisposing birds to
necrotic enteritis”

the hottest water had numerically lower a fishmeal-supplemented diet and a third
temperature of drinking
bodyweight compared to the other groups, group was infected with Eimeria and in
water may affect bodyweight Christopher Eagleson, an undergraduate addition received fishmeal. A fourth group
during brooding at the university, reported at the 2014 without Eimeria did not receive fishmeal
International Poultry Scientific Forum. and served as a control.

The temperature of drinking water Fishmeal had a strong effect on intestinal

during brooding may affect the microbiota, similar to the reported effects
bodyweight of broiler chicks, according
link between fishmeal, of C. perfringens infection. Investigators
to a University of Arkansas study.1 Eimeria and necrotic enteritis also noted major changes in the
in broilers explored prevalence of various lactobacilli, while
In their study, investigators provided total, culturable Lactobacillus counts
225 day-old male broilers with free access remained stable. Other microbiota such
to water that was either 40° F (4.44° C), insights into how fishmeal in as Ruminococcaceae were affected, as
70° F (21.11° C) or 100° F (37.78° C). poultry rations and Eimeria infection determined by an increased number of
They monitored water temperature hourly may predispose broilers to necrotic operational taxonomic units — a method
and adjusted it as needed during the enteritis come from a study by of defining a species based on DNA
72-hour treatment period. The scientists Australian investigators. sequence results.
also vaccinated birds for coccidiosis
and provided feed based on Cobb Although it is widely established that a Eimeria induced different changes in
nutritional standards. high-protein, fishmeal-supplemented microbiota. For example, Ruminococcaceae
starter diet along with Eimeria infection were reduced in number, and three
Broilers that received the hottest water can predispose birds to clinical necrotic unknown clostridium species increased
were significantly lighter (P ≤ 0.03) than enteritis after Clostridium perfringens in abundance. Eimeria did not significantly
broilers in the other groups on day 14, infection, exactly how is not clearly influence changes in measures such as
weighing in at 463 g (1.02 lb) compared to known, scientists say. Consequently, pH or formic acid, while fishmeal induced
501 g (1.10 lb) for the other two groups. they analyzed the cecal microbiota of dramatic changes.
four groups of broilers with the use of
Although there were no significant deep pyrosequencing — a method of “Both fishmeal feeding and Eimeria
differences regarding feed conversion or DNA analysis. infection induced significant changes in
average weight among the three groups the gut microbiota; these changes may
on days 7, 31 and 42, birds that received One group was infected with Eimeria and play an important role in predisposing
received a control diet, another received continued

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INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
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The more coarse corn was added to the birds’ diets,

SOUND SCIENCE
the more body and gizzard weight increased.

link between fishmeal, Eimeria and housed either in conventional cages or in weight increased. Although breast-meat
necrotic enteritis in broilers explored
colony cages enriched with perching and yield decreased and abdominal fat
continued
nesting. They then cultured all eggs laid increased with increasing levels of coarse
birds to necrotic enteritis,” say S.B. Wu, of between 5 and 25 days after inoculation. corn, there was no effect on carcass yield,
the University of New England, Australia, the investigators report in the March 2014
and colleagues in Veterinary Microbiology In both trials combined, S. enteritidis was issue of Poultry Science.
online, March 14, 2014.2 recovered from 3.97% of eggs from hens
in conventional cages and from 3.58% of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacteria spp.
eggs laid by hens in enriched cages — counts increased, while counts of
a difference that was not statistically Clostridium spp., Campylobacterium spp.
S. enteritidis frequency in eggs significant, report Richard K. Gast, of the and Bacteroides spp. decreased as levels
similar in conventional and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, of coarse corn increased.
enriched cage systems Athens, Ga., and colleagues.
The results show that coarse corn can
totally replace ground corn in mash diets
T he frequency of egg contamination with cracked corn has positive fed to broilers, conclude Y. Singh, of Massey
Salmonella enteritidis did not significantly University, Palmerston, and colleagues.
differ between hens housed in conven- effect in broilers
tional and enriched cages, investigators say
in the March 2014 issue of Poultry Science.3 c racked corn fed to broilers increased
1
weight gain and gizzard size and had a eagleson C, et al. impact of drinking water temperature during
They conducted their study because most brooding stage on bodyweights of broiler chicks. Proceedings,
positive effect on gut microflora, say New international Poultry scientific Forum, atlanta, 2014.
human illness caused by S. enteritidis Zealand investigators.4
2
is attributed to consumption of contami- wu sB, et al. two necrotic enteritis predisposing factors, dietary
fishmeal and Eimeria infection, induce large changes in the caecal
nated eggs and because animal-welfare In their study, they fed broilers either microbiota of broiler chickens. Vet Microbiol. 2014 Mar 14;169
concerns have increasingly influenced (3-4):188-97.
600 g/kg of finely ground corn or replaced
housing for commercial poultry, leading the ground corn with 150, 300, 450 or 600 3
Gast RK, et al. Contamination of eggs by Salmonella enteritidis
to the increased use of enriched cages. g/kg of coarse corn. Each diet was fed in in experimentally infected laying hens housed in conventional or
enriched cages. Poult sci. 2014 Mar;93(3):728-733.
mash form and offered free-choice from
4
In two trials, investigators orally adminis- 11 to 35 days after hatch. singh Y, et al. influence of feeding coarse corn on performance,
nutrient utilization, digestive tract measurements, carcass
tered S. enteritidis to groups of laying hens characteristics, and cecal microflora counts of broilers. Poult sci.
The more coarse corn was added to the 2014 Mar;93(3):607-616.
birds’ diets, the more body and gizzard

6
COVER
STORY

s U s ta i n a B i L i t Y
What on earth does Sustainability, sustainability, sustainability.

it really mean? You can’t pick up a farm or business journal

these days without being assaulted by what
could easily be the buzzword of the decade.
and how does it
make no mistake, sustainability is an
apply to poultry important target for any business, in any
industry. it’s also paramount to consumers.
health? according to a 2012 nielsen survey,
two out of three consumers say they
prefer to buy products from companies
that they believe to be socially and
environmentally responsible.

in the poultry industry, these trends are

reshaping every link in the production chain.
But what exactly does it mean for poultry to
be “sustainable”? does poultry health play
a role in meeting this objective? and does
the industry’s idea of sustainability align
with its customers’?

Poultry Health Today editors cut through

the rhetoric, sought opinions from scientists
and examined the numbers to learn how
the concepts of sustainability apply to
day-to-day, flock-health programs.

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Tossing around
the ‘S word’ S
back in the 1970s, the word

S
In agriculture, this generally translates to palatability and
“sustainability” was used mainly by producing more with less — a goal that it’s no wonder that
environmental groups to promote the morphs into a dire need when looking at poultry is expected to continue to top
conservation of natural resources while global population trends. According to a the charts for meat consumption and
curbing pollution and waste. recent UN report, food production will production for decades to come, both
need to increase by 70% to feed the in the US and abroad.4
That definition has held up well over world’s 9.6 billion people by 2050 —
the years and has proved to be, well, a little more than 35 years from now — To manage this growth responsibly,
pretty sustainable. But as the term while limiting greenhouse gases and the some commercial US poultry farms
comes into wider use, it begins to need for additional land and water.2 are working to increase production
mean much more to more people and That’s a super-sized order. on existing land, while minimizing
more industries. It depends on their pressure on the environment —
values, interests and beliefs. Furthermore, sustainability experts say, an approach that is known as
agriculture needs to meet this goal by “sustainable intensification.”
For the sake of establishing a baseline balancing economic viability with social
for this article, let’s turn to the popular and environmental stewardship. The big Maintaining good poultry health
UN definition, which describes it as question is how. is critical to this strategy, as it directly
“meeting the needs of the present, affects human and animal welfare,
without compromising the ability economic viability and environmental

S
of future generations to meet their Advantages for poultry impact — the very cornerstones
own needs.”1 of sustainable production. How the
Fortunately for the industry, poultry industry keeps its flocks healthy is also
production already has considerable the subject of heated debate, however.
advantages over other livestock systems As producers work to optimize bird
in terms of energy efficiency, carbon health and performance in intensified
emissions, feed conversion, land and settings, they also must answer to an
water use, and waste.3 inquisitive public that is increasingly
concerned with how birds are
Factor in poultry’s high nutritional raised and what goes into their feed
value, relatively low cost and universal and water.

8
 s U s ta i n a B i L i t Y

COVER STORY
S Figure 1 World beef, pork and poultry consumption, 1980-2050

s 400
Broilers Pork Beef Arable land/person

0.4

Available arable land (ha/person)

Meat consumption (million MT)

300 0.3

200 0.2

100 0.1
s
0 0.0
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

Sources: global insight demand analysis to 2050; bauman and capper (2011) Southwest nutrition and managment conference, Tempe, aZ

Some see this as a challenge — not in many ways have been good for the — a more accurate description than the
least because consumer perceptions of industry. Consumers have more choices, popular “antibiotic-free” — to establish
sustainability don’t always reflect the and producers benefit from higher successful and sustainable programs.
realities of efficient, high-volume margins and robust demand for niche However, he does not believe that
commercial production. Ask typical products. But is the rise of organic, approach is necessarily more sustainable
American consumers what “sustainable free-range and antibiotic-free poultry than conventional practices. In fact, he
poultry” means and they’ll probably actually making the industry says, the risks to animal welfare, food
describe poultry and eggs produced under more sustainable? safety and efficiency tend to be much
a wide range of alternative systems — higher in these alternative systems.
organic, free-range or antibiotic-free, Not necessarily, says Stephen Shepard,
to name a few. In response, a growing a poultry specialist at Farm Animal “The practice of never using antibiotic
number of retailers and foodservice Care Training and Auditing feed additives results in higher feed
companies are adopting these (FACTA), which audits, assures and conversions, higher production costs
consumer-driven standards as well. implements animal-welfare programs and, if not managed properly, more
for producers internationally. sick birds,” Shepard explains. “This is
not only a serious welfare issue, but it
Sound alternatives? Shepard supports alternative production also results in a higher bacterial freight
practices; in fact, he routinely consults for poultry coming into the processing
These trends have prompted the rapid with poultry operations that want to plant, which increases the risk of
growth of new production systems, which produce birds “raised without antibiotics” contaminated meat.”
continued on page 11

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INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE

Demand for increased transparency has led to the proliferation

Making sense of poultry labels of poultry labeling terms — many of which surface in discussions
about sustainability and production practices. What these terms
actually mean, however, is sometimes less clear. Following are
four common labeling terms and their official USDA definitions:

LABELING TERM USDA DEFINITION WORTH NOTING

1 Free range,
free roaming
Producers must demonstrate to the agency
that the poultry has been allowed access to
the outside.
There are no official requirements for
access, or for the type, quantity or quality
of outdoor space.

The terms “antibiotic-free” or “no antibiotics When antibiotics are used in livestock
added” may be used on labels for meat or and poultry production, strict withdrawal

2
poultry if sufficient documentation is periods must be followed before the
provided by the producer to the agency animals are processed. USDA monitors
No antibiotics demonstrating that the animals were raised meat and poultry to ensure that in the
added without antibiotics. unlikely event that antibiotic residues are
present, they do not exceed the tolerance
levels deemed unsafe by FDA and USDA.
The industry has a strong record of
compliance in this area.

A product containing no artificial ingredient Products labeled “natural” often make use
or added color and is only minimally of consumer-pleasing images of idyllic

3 Natural
processed. Minimal processing means that
the product was processed in a manner
that does not fundamentally alter the
product. The label must include a statement
explaining the meaning of the term
natural (such as “no artificial ingredients;
minimally processed”).
farms and green pastures. However, this
term has nothing to do with how the
poultry was raised or slaughtered.

• Managed organically from the second day Many consumers consider “certified
of life organic” the most reliable labeling term
for alternative poultry, as it designates
• Raised free-range, weather permitting, and
compliance with clearly defined and
without any antibiotics, animal byproducts or

4
enforced criteria. However, it should once
other prohibited feed ingredients
again be noted that there are no clear
Organic • Raised on certified organic land meeting all standards for “free-range” (see above).
organic crop production standards Contrary to what consumers widely
believe, many organic birds spend most
• Raised per animal-health and welfare
or all of their lives indoors.
standards
• Fed 100% certified organic feed, except for
trace minerals and vitamins used to meet
nutritional requirements

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COVER STORY
Tossing around
the ‘S word’
S Ss
S
continued from page 9 s
For these reasons, Shepard believes that
judicious antibiotic use is critical to both
poultry and human health — not only to
control and prevent disease, but also to
ensure the ethical treatment of animals.
To address these concerns, the US Food
and Drug Administration introduced new
guidelines in December to limit the use
of “medically important” antimicrobials
— that is, antibiotics and synthetic
performance claims and will be available
only with a veterinarian’s prescription
and oversight. (Antibiotics with approved
claims for improved weight gain and feed
efficiency that the FDA does not deem
But it shouldn’t always be necessary to therapeutics that are critical to human medically important can still be used for
wait for birds to get sick to start using medicine — to the treatment, control this purpose under the new guidelines.)
antibiotics, he says. In many cases, he and prevention of specific diseases in
thinks it is actually more judicious — food animals. According to Douglas Call, PhD, a
and more sustainable — to use antibiotics professor of molecular epidemiology at
under veterinary supervision before Washington State University’s Paul G.
they get sick. Allan School of Animal Health, the
FDA’s new guidelines could be beneficial
“Antibiotic feed additives help maintain in the face of rising antimicrobial
a healthy gut by controlling bacteria that resistance, although he observes that there
are malignant to overall gut health, and a is scant evidence linking animal antibiotic
healthy gut leads to better absorption of use to resistant human infection.
nutrients,” he reasons. “As a result, we get
better feed conversions. And when we In an opinion piece he published in
get better feed conversions, we promote The Seattle Times last January, Call reports
sustainable agriculture through more “Therapeutic use of antibiotics that farm animals are reliably linked to
efficient land and water usage.” only three of 17 microbes that cause
in both human and veterinary most resistant infections, according to the
Centers for Disease Control, and 7.5%
medicine is the biggest driver of
Resisting resistance of related deaths.5 Furthermore, about
medically important antibiotic 28% of feed antibiotics are ionophores,
Critics of using antibiotics to improve which are never used in human medicine.
flock performance argue that these
resistance, as is the indiscriminate Another 42% are tetracyclines, which are
products may make birds grow bigger use of antibiotics in countries that used in humans only rarely.
and faster, but that they also might be
contributing to antimicrobial resistance lack any regulatory oversight.” It remains to be seen whether the new
in both animals and humans. Whatever DOUGLAS CALL, PHD FDA guidelines will benefit public health.
their efficiency benefits, the costs to But according to Call, one thing is
public health could be greater, they certain: Due to increased veterinary costs
claim, so using antibiotics solely for this Over the next 3 years, feed and water and loss of production gains attributed
purpose is unsustainable. medications containing medically to antibiotics, food prices will rise.
important antibiotics will lose their continued

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S Ss
Tossing around S
the ‘S word’ s
“Rural producers with limited access to
Figure 2 Antimicrobials for food-producing animals veterinarians would need assistance to
cope, while small producers may be
Aminoglycosides Cephalosporins Ionophores Lincosamides
squeezed out of the market,” he writes.
Macrolides Penicillins Sulfas Tetracyclines NIR
“If prices increase enough, consumers
could favor cheaper imported foods
1.5 for which we have limited regulatory
oversight. This would also result in
0.2 job losses for the US.”
11.5

Preventing disease

Still, Call believes that even for medically

28.9 important antibiotics, the public’s
preoccupation with “growth promotion”
is overshadowing an opportunity to curb
42.2 a greater and more established threat to
both animal and human health.

“Using antibiotics to promote growth

1.2 is probably not a major threat to public
4.2 health,” he writes. “Therapeutic use
of antibiotics in both human and
6.6 veterinary medicine is the biggest driver
of medically important antibiotic
3.8 resistance, as is the indiscriminate use
of antibiotics in countries that lack any
• Percentage (%) kg sold/year (FDA) regulatory oversight.”

• All animals According to Call, antibiotics with

performance claims may work by
• Includes antibiotics, antimicrobials, ionophores
preventing disease, thereby limiting the
• Prevention, control, growth promotion, need for higher therapeutic doses. In an
therapeutic claims interview with Poultry Health Today, he
pointed to evidence of this possibility in
2010 Summary report on antimicrobials Sold or distributed for Use in food-Producing animals, fda
Denmark, which banned non-therapeutic
/www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmUpdates (posted oct 28, 2011) antibiotic use in food animals in 2000.

12
 LitY
s U s ta i n a B i

COVER
STORY
Too busy
for sustainability?
Between 1999 and 2012, however,
therapeutic antibiotic consumption by
food animals rose by 86%, according to
Think again
a Danish government report.6

“This increase in demand for therapeutic “We’re usually too busy putting out fires to worry about sustainability.”
antibiotics substantially exceeds the
growth of food-animal production over That was how a well-known veterinary pathologist at a leading university answered
the same time period,” Call observes. Poultry Health Today’s query about sustainability. The specialist then centered himself and
“Thus, we must ask: Did the dispropor- politely added, “I too think the word is overused and will look forward to [your] article.”
tionate demand for therapeutic uses result The poultry veterinarian’s dry but brutally honest answer brought some laughter to the
from the loss of disease prevention af- newsroom, but it also spoke volumes about the challenges of becoming more sustainable
forded by low-dose growth promotion?” in the face of day-to-day production demands.

In conclusion, Call suggests greater more than a buzzword

investment into alternative Sure, sustainability is a sound and noble concept — something everyone needs to think
disease-control strategies that could about and practice — but try telling that to a veterinarian or producer in the middle of an
limit the need for antibiotics in both infectious bronchitis outbreak. Timing, as they say, is everything.
human and animal medicine. For the Nevertheless, it’s clear that sustainability isn’t just a trendy buzzword, passing fad or
time being, though, he believes that marketing niche. It’s a reality that’s reshaping the industry — and everyone needs to start
properly using antibiotics to enhance paying attention.
performance likely reduces demand for The good news for conventional poultry producers is that many of their practices already
therapeutic doses. For this reason, he says, promote sustainability, whether they know it or not. (See accompanying article.)
they generally do more good than harm And although there’s undoubtedly room for improvement — in all segments of
— by protecting human and animal the poultry industry — the “challenge” of sustainability is actually full of opportunity for
health, and also by assuring a safe, conventional producers.
efficient and affordable food supply.
the three es
“Trying to define sustainability as one thing is a losing game. It’s better understood as
Conventional vs. alternative our generation’s bucket list, except it is a list of things we need to do to ensure the survival
of future generations,” says Øistein Thorsen, principal consultant at Benchmark Sustainability
To recap, proponents of conventional Science, a group that helps agricultural businesses design and implement customized
systems argue that antibiotics are sustainability programs.
important to sustainable poultry “For each industry and business, the opportunities that sustainability provides will be
production primarily because they completely different. They vary according to how their business affects, and in turn is affected
prevent and control disease. This by, what we call the ‘three Es’ — ethics, environment and economics.
results in better health and growth, “For poultry producers, for example, the health and welfare of their birds is the backbone
and consequently, better animal and of a financially healthy business. Making key improvements in poultry health and welfare
human welfare, greater economic and management can, therefore, go a long way toward making an operation more sustainable in
continued on page 14 terms of improved animal and human welfare, improved economic efficiency and reduced
environmental impact.”

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S Ss
Tossing around S
the ‘S word’ s
environmental efficiency, and a safe,
abundant and affordable food supply. Table 1 Main characteristics of two farming systems

cOnventiOnal Organic
In response to these claims, critics
argue that “crowded” and “unsanitary” Buildings and space allowance
confinement systems are what invite
Birds per unit (n) 15,600 1,000
disease and make routine antibiotic use
2
necessary in the first place. With lower Surface area covered (m ) 988 96
flock densities, greater outdoor access Density (birds/m2 covered surface) 15.1 10.4
and better husbandry, they claim, the Pasture (m /birds) 2
— 9.9
need for antibiotics could be significantly
reduced or eliminated altogether. Productive perfomancea
Final weight (g) 2,730 2,210
Billy M. Hargis, DVM, PhD, a poultry
science professor at University of Age at slaughtering (days) 49 81
Arkansas, does not doubt the possibility Daily weight gain (g/days) 54.5 26.3
of raising healthy poultry without Units produced/year (n) 5.8 4.2
antibiotics; he even believes such systems
Feed index 1.9 3.4
will become more common over time.
Mortality rate (%) 4.5 9.9

a
mean performance considering a female/male ratio = 1
The great outdoors

As the university’s Tyson Endowed

Chair for Sustainable Poultry Health, To make his point, Hargis refers to a “emergy” — a complex method of
Hargis focuses on developing new 2006 study comparing conventional and measuring all the direct and indirect
health-management strategies, including organic poultry production, which by energy required to make a product or
sustainable alternatives to feed antibiotics. legal definition are free-range birds raised sustain a system.
Some of these alternatives are proving without antibiotics. (See sidebar on page
highly effective — notably vaccines and 10 for more definitions.) Although the “Emergy is one way of looking at
some probiotics, he says. But of all the study was conducted in Italy, it is sustainability, albeit a rather abstract one,
promising alternative solutions that have relevant to larger markets and widely based on principles of thermodynamics,”
caught his attention, simply subtracting cited throughout the US (Table 1).7 Hargis says. “I could argue with the
antibiotics and giving birds more access calculations. But when I look at these
to the great outdoors currently isn’t Worth noting is that the study concludes data from a poultry health standpoint,
one of them. that organic systems are more sustainable I see a different picture — and you don’t
based on calculations of what’s called need to be a physicist to understand it.

14
 s U s ta i n a B i L i t Y 2

COVER STORY
“ notice that the organic systems had more than twice the mortalities of the conventional systems (9.9% vs. 4.5%).

“First of all,” he continues, “notice that

the organic systems had more than twice
the mortalities of the conventional
B I L LY M . H A R G I S , D V M , P H D

as well as to explore ways of doing this

even better in the future.
”
systems (9.9% vs. 4.5%). From this, we “The poultry industry is generally
can infer that sickness and morbidities doing a fantastic job with welfare and
were also double,” he says. sustainability and should be proud of
the high standards it has achieved,” he
The study’s authors directly attributed says. “Conventional producers need to
the higher mortalities to the fact that no help the public understand how their
antibiotics were used. But according to health and husbandry practices promote
Hargis, the birds’ free-range environment these standards, while assuring the safety,
also could have been a factor, as it is security and efficiency of their food.”
BILLY M. HARGIS, DVM, PHD
more difficult to control pathogens —
particularly parasitic diseases — in
would be incompatible with the needs
outdoor settings. Room for improvement
of a growing and hungry population.”
This conundrum presents a major issue Proud as conventional producers should

S
for both animal and human welfare, he be, Shepard says, this does not mean
Wake-up call
says. Even if organic production were to that they should rest in their laurels,

S
improve mortality rates, its relative nor should they consider their health
From ethical, economic and environmen-
inefficiency would still pose significant programs “sustainable,” in absolute terms,
tal standpoints, then, it appears that
hurdles to sustainability and meeting the just because of their advantages over
alternative production systems aren’t
world’s increasing demand for poultry. alternative systems.
necessarily as sustainable as many
consumers believe they are. At a time
“In the organic, free-range system, it takes “There are many different definitions
when the industry is being called on to
nearly twice as long, twice as much grain of sustainability, and consumers should
produce more with less, these alternative
and significantly more land to raise birds be able to buy poultry according to
systems typically produce less with more
to an even lower bodyweight,” Hargis their individual values and beliefs —
— with few clear health or welfare
says. “This means that we would need all systems can be sustainable,” Shepard
benefits for either animals or humans.
to have twice as many poultry farms to says. “However, both conventional and
make the same amount of chicken in the alternative systems have much progress
The flip side of this is that conventional
US — and that would mean less land to make, and the health of their flocks
poultry production is actually more
for row crops. will be key to making it.
sustainable than many consumers think.
For this reason, FACTA’s Shepard says the
“Factor in the extra labor, energy and “Is this a challenge? Absolutely,” he
industry should see the public’s growing
water needed and waste generated over continues. “But within it lies another
interest in sustainable food production
the longer growing cycle, and we’re opportunity to make a big difference —
not just as a challenge but also as an
talking about a very large environmental for poultry, producers, people and
opportunity — to showcase what it is
S

footprint — one that, on a large scale, the planet.”

already doing to promote sustainability,

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 15
INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE

Ss
Tossing around
the ‘S word’ s S
S
Putting
1
Our Common Future: Report of the
sustainability
World Commission on Environment
and Development.
http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm

2
World Resources Report: Creating a
into action
Sustainable Food Future.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/story
.asp?NewsID=46647&Cr=Food+Security&C
r1#.UybDh_ZkLX-
today
3
So how can commercial poultry producers
Poultry production has lower carbon
footprint than other livestock systems.
Farmers Weekly. http://www.fwi.co.uk/ make their poultry-health programs more sustainable —
articles/22/11/2007/108514/poultry-
production-has-lower-carbon-footprint- ethically, environmentally and economically?
than-other-livestock.htm

4
World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030. Poultry Health Today asked specialists
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4252e/y42
52e05b.htm to comment on five key aspects
5
Limiting Antibiotic Use for Livestock
Could Raise Prices. of production:
http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/20226
34923_dougcallopedantibioticsmeatxxxml.
html

6
Danish experience offers lessons for US
antibiotic use. http://www.beefissues
quarterly.com/danishexperienceoffers
lessonsforu.s.antibioticuse.aspx

7
Castellini C, et al. Sustainability of poultry
production using the emergy approach:
Comparison of conventional and organic
rearing systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems
and Environment. 2006;114. http://
orgprints.org/9317/1/emergy_pollo.pdf

16
 s U s ta i n a B i L i t Y

COVER STORY
1. GENETICS
Genetics affect sustainability because they influence not only the “Modern breeders and broilers have more capacities than they used to, so
efficiency of a bird’s growth but also its overall health and welfare. they need management and nutrition adapted to reach their potential.
The older lines were more forgiving if you didn’t get everything exactly
Today, most conventional poultry is bred to grow bigger and faster than right, whereas modern lines are much higher performing but also higher
ever, but some claim that such rapid and robust growth compromises maintenance,” Halley says.
mobility and immunity. However, John Halley, PhD, global head of
nutrition services at Aviagen, says today’s producers don’t have to choose To enable modern, high-performance birds to reach their genetic
between growth and health — in fact, he says, modern breeding potential, Halley advises producers not only to carefully follow the
programs improve health, environmental impact, welfare and production breeder’s instructions but also to regularly assure quality and compliance
characteristics. Producers just have to know how to care for these at every step along the way. “Ultimately, poultry health is an integrated
high-performance birds. system, and all parts need to be working for the bird to be healthy.”

2. NUTRITION
Like genetics, nutrition is a precise science
that significantly impacts poultry health
and growth. Given the relatively short life
cycle of broilers, it is critical that
birds get exactly the nutrition they
need at exactly the right time —
an increasingly elusive goal, given the
John Halley, PhD
increasing fluctuations in grain quality.

For example, producers now have to regularly tweak rations to

accommodate inconsistencies of a major feed ingredient — one that
could easily serve as agriculture’s dubious poster child for sustainability:
dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) from ethanol production.

While DDGS are often plentiful and typically make up 10% or more of
a bird’s diet, their levels of protein, amino acids, available energy,
phosphorus and sodium can vary widely from load to load. For this and
other reasons, producers need to make sure that the ingredients in the
feed actually match the ones on the label.
continued

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 17
INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
PO U LTRY
H E A LT H
TODAY
Putting
sustainability
into action
today

2. NUTRITION continued bird performance and health,” he says. “Power ventilation ensures birds
get plenty of fresh air, while pushing ammonia and other contaminants
“Because of the huge volumes of feed we go through, it’s easy to lose out. And automated injection systems allow every egg to be vaccinated
sight of what we’re doing,” Aviagen’s Halley says. “Producers need to pay against Marek’s disease or even coccidiosis.”
close attention to incoming ingredients to make sure they’re making the
feed they think they’re making. They should also ensure that feed is stored Clark commends producers for investing in these new technologies and
and administered properly.” encourages them to continue doing so. However, he says, no technology
can replace good management on the road to sustainability.
In addition, he says, the industry should continue exploring alternative
feed sources to help offset grain’s high prices and controversial carbon “With all this technology, it’s easy to fall into a routine, but it’s important
footprint. For the time being when other sources can only replace a small to be watchful over the birds and be prepared to make adjustments as
percentage of feed, though, producers should focus on improving feed necessary,” he says.
conversion and limiting waste.
To do this effectively, Clark urges producers to ensure proper
documentation and training for all staff, through both internal programs
and external audits.
3. HUSBANDRY
“Just as producers have embraced changes in birds and equipment,
“As we always say, good husbandry is good for the animal,” says they also need to be open to changes in management,” he says. “They
Steven Clark, DVM, senior technical services veterinarian at Zoetis Inc. should, therefore, take full advantage of the skills and expertise of their
“And what’s good for the animal is good for people, the environment suppliers — we love to teach, educate and help our customers identify
and the producer’s bottom line.” new opportunities.”

According to Clark, who each year visits dozens of broiler and turkey
operations throughout the country, the industry has made great strides
with husbandry over the last few decades by embracing technological
advances, such as nipple drinkers, power ventilation and in ovo injection
systems for vaccines.

“The switch from bell-style drinkers to nipple drinker lines has improved
litter conditions, which in turn has improved air quality, and consequently

18
 s U s ta i n a B i L i t Y

COVER STORY
4. DISEASE MANAGEMENT 5. ANIMAL WELFARE
Disease management is perhaps the one area of poultry production Strong animal-welfare programs not only protect animals and appeal
where producers have had lots of practice being sustainable, to consumers but they are also associated with better-quality products
particularly in the management of antimicrobials (antibiotics and and increased productivity, says Stephen Shepard, a poultry specialist
synthetic therapeutics). at FACTA.

Like those used in human medicine, many therapeutics for poultry may To reap all the benefits of high animal-welfare standards, Shepard
lose effectiveness if they are used too long or not at the correct dose recommends implementing strong programs that emphasize education.
rate. Between that and a drought of new compounds, producers quickly
learned to preserve and make judicious use of the tools they had. “The problem is that some retailers don’t understand the daily challenges
(See related articles, pages 23 and 25.) faced by producers, or what it takes to produce your products,” Shepard
says. “Education is extremely important and producers are the experts.”
For example, Clark says, the long-standing practice of rotating
anticoccidials helped the industry maintain reasonably good control Furthermore, Shepard says, it’s especially important to regularly train
of coccidiosis for many decades while keeping its aging arsenal of and educate employees who handle flocks every day.
products effective.
In addition to education, Shepard says effective animal-welfare
“Now, sustainability-minded producers are taking that a step further programs should include clearly defined goals and metrics;
and planning their coccidiosis-management programs up to 2 years comprehensive documentation and standard operating procedures;
in advance,” he says. “They are also using coccidiosis vaccines to rest independent, third-party audits; and regular science-based assessments
medications. To me, that’s more than being sustainable. It’s also of production practices.
being smart.”
But above all, Shepard says, successful animal-welfare programs
take commitment.

“From the CEO to middle management to the plant and barn workers,
“FROM THE CEO TO MIDDLE MANAGEMENT TO THE every person must be familiar with, and conversant in, animal welfare,”
PLANT AND BARN WORkERS, EVERY PERSON MUST BE he stresses. “Animal welfare, like sustainability, doesn’t happen by
accident — it takes constant and concerted effort by every member of
FA M I L I A R W I T H , A N D C O N V E R S A N T I N , A N I M A L
the organization.”
W E L F A R E . . . A N I M A L W E L F A R E , L I k E S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y,

D O E S N ’ T H A P P E N B Y A C C I D E N T — I T TA k E S

C O N S TA N T A N D C O N C E R T E D E F F O R T B Y E V E R Y

M E M B E R O F T H E O R G A N I Z AT I O N .”

Stephen Shepard, FACTA

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 19
INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
PO U LTRY
H E A LT H
TODAY

Phil Stayer, DVM

THE REAL Sanderson Farms
WORLD

‘sUstainaBiLitY
is ReaLLY nothinG new
FoR PoULtRY’
Phil Stayer, DVM, is a no-nonsense guy with a low
threshold for trendy buzzwords and catch phrases.

So when the head veterinarian at Sanderson Farms

hears people bat around terms like sustainability,
carbon footprint, cradle to grave, renewable resources
or even animal welfare, he looks at them as if they
just discovered fire.

It’s not that he considers these concepts unimportant.

Stayer just thinks they’ve been part of the US poultry
industry all along, even if profitability was the
primary driver.

20
 2

“What makes a poultry company the most money also

happens to be doing what’s best for the bird, for the land

and, yes, for sustainability.”

“To me, sustainability is really nothing “Most of a poultry operation’s cost is “Our upper management — all the
new. What makes a poultry company feed,” he adds. “If we can reduce that way up to our CEO — looks at our
the most money also happens to be volume and expense with better feed 7-day mortality,” he says. “They expect
doing what’s best for the bird, for the conversion — and that’s an area where our first-week mortality to be less than
land and, yes, for sustainability,” he says. we can always improve — that’s less 0.75% by the house — not by average,
“And certainly, there’s always room for input, fewer trucks you’ve got to put but by the house. And if any house
improvement. on the road to bring corn in, fewer is over that target, there has to be
trains, less land in production. So an explanation.
“Sustainability involves getting the best having good feed conversion is going
that we can for our bird health — doing to reduce a lot of energy consumed. To “I think that’s been a big secret to our
whatever it takes to keep the birds me, that’s huge — feed is the giant that success — getting the birds off to a
healthy with whatever tools we have casts the longest shadow.” good early start and positioning them
available. And then, hopefully, finding for a strong finish,” Stayer continues.
ways to do the most with the least to “That begins in the hatchery — how
maximize our profitability.” 7 - day m o r Ta l i T y you incubate them, how you pull the
hatch, how you make the eggs set, the
He should know. Sanderson Farms chemical sanitation. We spend a lot of
redUcing carbon fooTPrinT places more than 9 million birds a energy and effort to keep it as clean
week at its farms in Mississippi, where as we can so that we can put out a
Maintaining good intestinal health the company is headquartered, and in big chick without a whole lot of
is particularly important for Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. Half bacterial growth.”
sustainability, he says, because the of the birds are grown to 9.0 lb in 60 to
condition of the gut ultimately 63 days; the rest are raised to 6.75 lb in
determines a flock’s growth rate about 50 days. big birdS, big challengeS
and feed conversion.
Stayer and his two production vets — But keeping the broilers healthy and
“You want a low carbon footprint?” Drs. David French and Erin Riley — efficient for up to 63 days presents
Stayer asks, rhetorically. “Maximize spend most of their time in the field, challenges as well, particularly in
your feed efficiency; avoid waste; reviewing the health status of all farms. the summer.
find ways to be more efficient. They also get some help from the continued
company’s C-suite.

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 21
 INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
PO U LTRY
H E A LT H
TODAY

“I think vaccination still has great potential,

‘sUstainaBiLitY
is ReaLLY nothinG new especially if the industry can find a way to
FoR PoULtRY’

improve vaccine uptake.”

As with most farms in the Deep South, And coccidiosis is not getting any
Sanderson’s biggest hurdle is hot easier to control, he says. Despite
weather, compounded by the buildup the availability of more than a dozen
of body heat in the houses, especially in-feed antimicrobials in the US and
on farms with large birds. Stayer says a half dozen vaccines, managing
the company generally takes fewer big E. maxima and other coccidial
birds to market during the summer — organisms — E. acervulina, E. tenella,
typically 0.5% less than its 49-day-old to name a few — has become yet
birds — but Sanderson makes up for another exercise in sustainability.
it during the winter months, which
Stayer calls the “best season.” Like similar medications used in
human and companion-animal
Still, maintaining good gut health medicine, antimicrobials for poultry
and feed conversion is a year-round and livestock can lose effectiveness
concern and paramount to the when used improperly or for
operation’s success and sustainability. extended periods. Furthermore,
some medications perform better
“Intestinal health is where I focus most at different times of year or at
of my time, whether we’re designing different growth stages.
programs to control the ubiquitous
coccidiosis — that’s our biggest
nemesis — and the bacterial feWer WeaPonS
overgrowth that occurs with that,”
he says. So on paper, it may look like the
poultry industry has a deep war chest
Of the major Eimeria organisms that of anticoccidials. But when producers
can cause coccidiosis, Stayer describes factor in other variables — the birds’
Eimeria maxima as his “biggest feed heat intolerance when receiving
thief” — one that also predisposes some synthetic compounds, optimum
birds to Clostridium perfringens usage times or the need to rest an
infection and necrotic enteritis. anticoccidial every first or second cycle
— the number of effective weapons

22
 2

‘rotate Smarter,’
SaYS coccidioSiS
SPecialiSt

quickly dwindles. Stayer says the loss Poultry producers need to “rotate smarter” and learn the differences
of roxarsone — a popular anticoccidial between anticoccidials if they want to maintain effective and sustainable
used for many years with other coccidiosis-management programs, says well-known coccidiosis specialist
antimicrobials — has also made Greg Mathis, PhD, Southern Poultry Research, Athens, Ga.
coccidiosis management and flock
efficiency more challenging. “When was the last time the world’s poultry industry got a new anticoccidial —
15 or 20 years ago?” he asks. “We still have good tools available, but we need
At one point, Stayer saw vaccinating to do whatever we can to preserve their effectiveness and optimize their
for coccidiosis as a good way to rest performance. Planning ahead and thinking about your program 12, 18 and
in-feed antimicrobials and prolong even 24 months from now is a huge step in the right direction.”
their effectiveness. “We started our
vaccine journey a few years ago but He says rotating ionophores within the same family is one of the most common
really were not successful until we mistakes he sees with coccidiosis-management programs.
put roxarsone with it,” he explains.
“After we stopped using that product, “I see producers rotating from, say, monensin or salinomycin to narasin, but
we lost so much performance in all they're doing is rotating from one monovalent ionophore to another,”
vaccinated birds. The feed conversion he says. “They’d be better off rotating to a divalent ionophore, a chemical or
just wasn’t there.” even a vaccine.”

“
He also tried supplementing vaccination
with feeding an ionophore after the
vaccinal oocysts were done cycling —
Planning ahead and thinking about your
a practice that has been shown in
research to benefit some flocks —
program 12, 18 and even 24 months from now

”
but he’s sticking with medicated feed
additives for now. “I think vaccination
is a huge step in the right direction.
still has great potential, especially if Greg Mathis, PhD / Southern Poultry Research
the industry can find a way to improve
vaccine uptake, but we just weren’t
seeing consistent performance on
our farms,” Stayer adds.
continued

THE
R
WORL EAL
D

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 23
 INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE
PO U LTRY
H E A LT H
TODAY

“We’re trying to rotate through all the anticoccidial products

‘sUstainaBiLitY
is ReaLLY nothinG new in a thoughtful way, with a close eye on bird response, and
FoR PoULtRY’

then making changes where needed.”

more JUdicioUS USe “I don’t believe ionophores or leakage the anticipated boost seen with
from ionophores cause dermatitis, as other rotations.
The focus on medicated feed additives some people do, but I do think — and
makes it even more critical to use them this is just my theory — ionophores Using lasalocid, a divalent ionophore
judiciously and sustainably. Going into might set up the gut flora to allow with a different molecular makeup,
fall, when coccidiosis pressure tends gangrenous dermatitis,” he says. or a chemical in between monovalents,
to increase with reduced ventilation is a good, sustainable strategy for pre-
and increased moisture, Stayer puts “Whatever the reason, we don’t have serving the efficacy of all compounds.
nicarbazin in the starter feed and then a problem with dermatitis when
changes to an ionophore — lasalocid, we’re using chemicals,” he says. “The “Our nutritionist had a lot of experience
monensin, narasin or salinomycyn — weakness in chemicals is that you using lasalocid in turkeys and it worked
in the later feeds. can get about one cycle out of them, well, as long as he limited the sodium
maybe two with some products, and and potassium,” he says. “By limiting
When the colder weather hits in then they start breaking. You really the electrolytes, you don’t have as
December, he’ll feed nicarbazin up need to watch it.” much water uptake, which in turn
to 28 days of age or “as far out as we means less water excreted.
can take it without hurting the bird,”
he explains, before switching to an S e Pa r aT i n g T h e ‘ k i S S i n g c o U S i n S ’ “We’re trying to rotate through all the
ionophore in the finisher feed. anticoccidial products in a thoughtful
When the warmer weather arrives in way, with a close eye on bird response,
In February and March, he switches April, Stayer primarily depends on and then making changes where
to an all-chemical program — most ionophores, but he still needs to be needed. We plan our program at least
recently, decoquinate — and feeds it on guard for resistance buildup and 12 months in advance, trying to stick to
for one cycle. performance losses. He thinks it’s three or four products with the
also important to try to separate eye on using different ones in the
Why all chemicals in the winter what he calls the “kissing cousins” second year.”
months? It has been Stayer’s of coccidiosis management.
experience that birds on synthetic Because in the end, Stayer adds, his
anticoccidials are less likely to break Monensin, narasin and salinomycyn, goal is to keep doing what he’s worked
with gangrenous dermatitis than he explains, are all monovalent at all along — being more sustainable.
birds medicated with ionophores. ionophores with a similar chemical
structure, so rotating from one to
the other doesn’t always achieve

24
 2

THE
R

Zoetis launches new

WORL EAL
D

coccidiosis initiative
Targeting the global poultry industry’s more than $3 billion1 in an iPad app that initially will be available in the US, and
annual losses to coccidiosis, Zoetis Inc. recently introduced Rotecc™ a Rotecc™ Calculator, which will run on the iPad and Windows
Coccidiosis Management, a new, science-based operating systems.
initiative to help poultry producers develop more
strategic, cost-effective and sustainable programs Don Waldrip, DVM, senior technical
for battling the costly parasitic disease. services veterinarian for the company,
thinks poultry producers will benefit from
“Overall, the poultry industry has done a thinking longer term — perhaps even
commendable job managing coccidiosis. But 24 months ahead — when developing their
clearly, when you look at billions of dollars in coccidiosis-management programs.
losses associated with the disease, there is still lots
of room for improvement,” says Mark LaVorgna,
PhD, a nutritionist and global technical services GIVE IT A REST
director for the company.
“The more you plan ahead, the more
rotation options you’ll have available for
IPAD APP effective coccidiosis management,” says
Waldrip. “That’s important because it takes
Rotecc begins with a consultation by a Zoetis time to initiate effective rotation programs
representative, who reviews a poultry operation’s that will provide ample rest periods for
past and current programs, necropsy data and each class of in-feed product.”
results from anticoccidial sensitivity testing, as
well as seasonal preferences for product usage, While rotating anticoccidials is standard
production goals and management practices. Other variables practice at commercial poultry farms, Waldrip says, “traditional
such as feed costs and meat prices also are considered. thinking, old habits, cost considerations and the pressures to
achieve optimal short-term performance can sometimes stand in
To facilitate the review, Zoetis has developed several digital tools to the way of developing a longer term, sustainable strategy. Rotecc
help producers and veterinarians tailor a long-term program to suit aims to put producers on the right track and, more importantly,
their individual needs. These include the Rotecc™ Program Advisor, keep them there.”

1
Lille HS. Functional genomics approaches to study host pathogen interactions
to mucosal pathogens. Proceedings, Korean Society of Poultry Science Meeting,
Suwon, Korea, 2006.

P O U LT R Y H E A LT H TO DAY.CO M 25
INNOVATIONS AND PRAC TIC AL ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL FLOCK C ARE

REALITY CHECK
teChniCaLLY,
RE AL IT Y all PoUlTry in The US
is ‘antiBiotiC-FRee’
Confidently presenting facts — not defensive rhetoric — can go welfare and efficiency. For this special feature, Poultry Health Today
a long way toward shaping consumer opinions about commercial checked into whether poultry raised without antibiotics was more
poultry production and the importance of maintaining flock health, wholesome than meat from medicated birds.

Perception Several safeguards in the food chain make this possible:

Meat from poultry raised without antibiotics is more First, the USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) routinely
inspects all meat for residues of antibiotics, pesticides or environmental
wholesome and nutritious than other poultry. contaminants. Any meat found to contain violative residues of any
substance is automatically rejected.

Reality The poultry industry has also shown that it knows how to use antibiotics
responsibly and judiciously. According to statistics compiled by the
National Residue Program administered by FSIS since 2009, no violative
Most commercial poultry producers use antibiotics to treat, control antibiotic residues have been found in poultry meat.1 (For a copy of this
the spread of and prevent common diseases. Some consumers prefer report, visit fsis.usda.gov and select Topics > Data Collection and Reports.)
meat from poultry raised without antibiotics for personal or ethical
reasons, so many poultry operations now produce meat specifically When antibiotics are needed in poultry production, the medications
for this market. are used under veterinary supervision in compliance with regulations
established by the US Food and Drug Administration, which determines
Other than price — brands of meat from birds “raised without antibiotics” acceptable uses, dose rates and administration periods.
tend to cost more — there are no discernable differences in the meat
from medicated or non-medicated birds. FDA has also established strict drug-withdrawal periods, which ensure
that the animal’s system has been sufficiently cleared of antibiotics well
“There is absolutely no nutritional difference in meat from poultry raised before the meat enters the food supply. Furthermore, the agency regularly
without antibiotics compared to poultry that receive antibiotics,” says audits feed-mill records to make sure antibiotics are used in compliance
Mike Lacy, PhD, professor and head of poultry science at the University with FDA guidelines.
of Georgia.
According to the American Meat Institute, no meat — including meat
Michele Simon, a public health lawyer who writes the blog from birds raised without antibiotics — is ever guaranteed to be free from
eatdrinkpolitics.com, agrees. Reacting to Chick-fil-A’s announcement antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which occur naturally in humans, animals,
in February that within 5 years it would no longer sell meat from poultry insects and even plants. However, any foodborne bacteria found on raw
raised with antibiotics, Simon told The New York Times, “All of this makes poultry and other meats are destroyed when the meat is cooked at the
for great PR, but it doesn’t mean the products are necessarily any recommended temperature.2
more nutritious.”
1
hurd s. it’s all antibiotic-free, baby. 2013 aug. 14. http://hurdhealth.com/2013/08/14/
Today all poultry meat that enters the US food supply is, by definition, its-all-antibiotic-free-baby/ and Usda data Collection and Reports. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/
antibiotic-free or, more specifically, free of antibiotic residues by the portal/fsis/topics/data-collection-and-reports/chemistry/residue-chemistry
2
time it reaches consumers — regardless of how the birds were raised. aMi Fact sheet, antibiotic Use in Livestock Production: ensuring Meat safety.
www.meatami.com/ht/a/Getdocumentaction/i/56994

26
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RULES & REGS

‘ P r e v e n t i o n i S w h e n a v e t e r i n a r i a n B e l i e v e S t h at a f l o c k o f c h i c k e n S ,

f o r e x a m P l e , i S at r i S k o f B e i n g e x P o S e d a n d h a v i n g a n o U t B r e a k

of a diSeaSe.

’ W I L L I A M F LY N N , D V M , M S , C E N T E R F O R V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C I N E, F DA

Prevention claims New FDA guidelines that discourage

using medically important antibiotics
share that view. Nevertheless, such
statements underscore the continued need
for promoting growth in food animals for veterinarians to explain and
essential for appear to have been well-received by both defend the judicious use of antibiotics
producers and most consumer activists. for preventing certain diseases in

ensuring flock Both groups agree that antibiotics should

food animals.

still be used judiciously to treat and

health, welfare control the spread of disease. However, chickens ‘at risk’
some antibiotic hardliners object to the
provision in FDA Guidance Document William Flynn, DVM, MS, deputy
213 allowing the continued use of any director for science policy, Center for
antibiotics for disease prevention — an Veterinary Medicine, FDA, insists the
option they see as a loophole to continue FDA does not condone the willy-nilly
using them for growth promotion. use of antibiotics for preventing disease.

As one group, Food and Water Watch, “Disease prevention is not the use of
posted in a recent blog, “Whether for drugs to prevent whatever disease might
growth promotion or disease prevention, come along. That’s not at all what we’re
the result is the same: This practice talking about here. We wouldn’t consider
is creating more bacteria resistant to that judicious use,” Flynn explains.
antibiotics that we need to protect
human health.”1 “Prevention is when a veterinarian
believes that a flock of chickens, for
The authors of the new FDA guidelines, example, is at risk of being exposed and
which allow certain non-medically having an outbreak of a disease. Based
important antibiotics to retain on that risk, [the veterinarian makes] the
performance claims, apparently don’t decision that preventive administration

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RULES & REGS

Prevention claims
essential for
ensuring flock
health, welfare

of an antibiotic is warranted to prevent It is widely known that coccidia — and death from clostridial enteritis before
the outbreak. There’s knowledge and the parasites that cause coccidiosis — they occur. This is where prevention
experience that goes into that decision,” are persistent and that eradicating them and control of disease is of paramount
Flynn says. from the poultry-house environment importance to a successful poultry-health
is difficult, if not impossible. When and welfare program. Waiting for birds to
Furthermore, he points out that the coccidia go through their life cycle, get sick is not what veterinarians want to
new FDA guidelines will further increase Ritter explains, they cause a bacterial do,” he says.
the involvement of veterinarians when imbalance in the gut that results in excess
antibiotics are used in food animals. mucus production. The mucus provides Ritter notes that he’s worked extensively
food for C. perfringens, which is a widely with alternatives to antibiotics and that
prevalent bacterium found in soil, dust, the results have been less than stellar for
animal suffering and death feces, feed and litter. managing necrotic enteritis.

G. Donald Ritter, DVM, director If there is no intervention and “The alternatives look good in studies but
of health services for Mountaire Farms, clostridium is allowed to proliferate, just don’t act the same way in the field.
a major poultry producer based in tissues in the gut start to die, resulting There are no standards for them and
Millsboro, Del., points out that using in the condition known as necrotic many lack quality control. When we use
some antibiotics, including ionophores, enteritis. Chickens suffer and an intense something that is not FDA regulated, it’s
to prevent disease is crucial to protect regimen of therapeutic antibiotics is the wild, wild West,” he says.
animals from needless suffering required. Mortality can be as high
and death. as 50%.2
Healthy meat
In poultry, Ritter says, the most salient To prevent this chain of events, poultry
example of how preventive antibiotics veterinarians generally recommend There’s another important reason for
are used involves clostridial enteritis using one of three FDA-approved using antibiotics to prevent disease
and coccidiosis, two common diseases antibiotics — bacitracin, bambermycins outbreaks in poultry: Healthy chickens
of the intestines that often appear or virginiamycin — to prevent necrotic provide healthy meat, Ritter says.
together. Enteritis is caused by the enteritis from infecting the flock,
bacterium Clostridium perfringens and Ritter explains. In his experience, flocks raised without
usually occurs while chickens are antibiotics have a higher rate of clostridial
battling coccidiosis. “We’re going to use the least amount of enteritis infections and necrotic enteritis,
antibiotics at targeted times to prevent higher mortality and a higher rate of
and control — and hopefully not treat — condemnation at processing than
disease. We’re trying to prevent illness flocks that received antibiotics.

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G. DONALD RITTER, DVM W I L L I A M F LY N N, D V M, M S

‘ w a i t i n g f o r B i r d S t o g e t S i c k i S n o t w h at v e t e r i n a r i a n S w a n t t o d o.
G . D O N A L D R I T T E R , D V M , M O U N TA I R E FA R M S

The late Scott Hurd, DVM, PhD, the at risk for carrying increased levels of
’
Customers need to understand that the
well-known veterinarian from Iowa State bacteria responsible for foodborne illness, antibiotics used for gut health are not in
University who became an industry such as Campylobacter and Salmonella,” the meat they buy and that flocks need to
proponent of judicious antibiotic use Hurd wrote. be kept healthy to produce healthy meat,
and food safety, maintained that he adds. (See Reality Check, page 26.)
antibiotic-free-animals could potentially
pose a greater risk to human health. consumer education “If you explain this to customers, they
really understand. [They] would rather
“Pathogens are a common, unavoidable Ritter emphasizes the need to educate buy meat from healthy chickens instead
part of any environment. Disease consumers about when antibiotics for of from flocks that didn’t receive
prevention is important for keeping food animals are needed and how healthy antibiotics and are not as healthy. That’s
animals healthy in such an environment. meat is produced. generally the outcome if the discussion
In the absence of effective prevention, is thorough,” Ritter says.
animals face greater health challenges that “Issues involving the use of antibiotics
may lead to marginally healthy animals in food animals is in the newspapers,
or subclinical illness,” Hurd posted in his on the Internet and it’s a major concern
1
Borron S. How the FDA’s Voluntary Guidance
hurdhealth.com blog last year. for some of our customers. Many Fails to Curb Antibiotic Misuse in Livestock.
poultry companies, especially those 2014 Mar 11.
“My research has shown that subclinical that are branded, are already involving 2
Overview of Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry.
illness is not outwardly obvious to the veterinarians by having them talk to Merck Veterinary Manual. Accessed April 15,
2014.
producer or inspector but puts animals customers. It’s critical that the antibiotic
3
discussion is complete and transparent,” Hurd S. Is antibiotic free really healthier?
Hurd Health: Animal Health and Food Safety.
he says. 2013 Aug 8.

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DISCOVERIES
“the higher mortality was due primarily from bacterial infection, and while it may
have been incidental, it could be due to the broad-spectrum suppression of beneficial
microflora in the gut by virginiamycin.” M A R K L AV O R G N A , P H D

broad-spectrum suppression of beneficial student at Mississippi State University, said

microflora in the gut by virginiamycin,” at the 2014 International Poultry
he says. Scientific Forum.

Microbial suppression may help channel Sokale and colleagues evaluated several
energy to bird growth rather than to values after vaccination and found that the
microbial proliferation; however, over vaccine was deposited in the amnion in
give antimicrobial field trials consecutive grow-out cycles, it may also 88% of embryos injected on 18.5 days
a second look create gut dysbiosis that makes birds compared to 73% of embryos injected at
vulnerable to opportunistic infection, 19 days of incubation, Sokale said.
LaVorgna says.
Broiler producers should avoid making The scientists noted significantly higher
decisions about antimicrobial use based
He notes that more research is needed birthweight (P = 0.002) and yolk-sac
on studies or field trials involving just
to determine if broad-spectrum weight (P = 0.001) in hatchlings that
one flock, cautions Mark LaVorgna, PhD,
suppression of lactic acid-producing gut received the vaccine at 18.5 days of
director of global technical services,
flora is responsible both for increased incubation. Relative intestinal weight was
poultry, Zoetis Inc.
weight gain and increased vulnerability highest in chicks injected with the diluent
to bacterial infection and mortality. at 19 days of incubation. The mean
In a floor-pen study of three consecutive
embryonic-stage score was 2.44 in the
grow-out cycles conducted by LaVorgna
group vaccinated at 18.5 days and 3.24
and colleagues, broilers were fed
in the group vaccinated at 19 days of
either the broad-spectrum antibiotic timing may affect accuracy of incubation, the researcher said.
virginiamycin, bacitracin methylene in ovo vaccination
disalicylate, which has a narrower
Besides more precise deposition of the
spectrum, or combinations of both.1
vaccine at 18.5 days of incubation, the
The coccidiosis vaccine Inovocox® EM1 results indicate that developmental
During the first grow-out cycle, the was more precisely deposited to embryos
differences occur, depending on the day
virginiamycin-fed broilers had better feed when the vaccine was administered at 18.5
of administration, that may affect the
conversion and processing weight, but by versus 19 days of incubation, indicates a
subsequent response of hatchlings to
the third grow-out, their mortality was 4% Zoetis-sponsored study from Mississippi
the coccidiosis vaccine, Sokale said.
higher compared to bacitracin-fed broilers, State University.2
LaVorgna and colleagues found in their
study, which was published last year in the Investigators injected the vaccine, which
1
Journal of Applied Poultry Research. contains live oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, LaVorgna M, et al. Performance of broilers fed a broader
spectrum antibiotic (virginiamycin) or a narrower spectrum
E. maxima and E. tenella, into broiler eggs antibiotic (bacitracin methylene disalicylate) over 3 consecutive
“The higher mortality was due primarily with an automated multiple-egg injector growout cycles. J appl Poult Res 2013;22(3): 574-582.
2
from bacterial infection, and while it may at 18.5 or 19 days of incubation. The results sokale a, et. al. Physiological responses of broiler hatchlings to
commercial in ovo coccidiosis vaccine administered on days 18.5
have been incidental, it could be due to the were compared to those of control eggs and 19.0 of incubation. abstracts, international Poultry scientific
injected with a diluent on the same days Forum, atlanta, 2014.
of incubation, Adebayo Sokale, a graduate

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THE LAST WORD

Never say never

As a veterinarian, I’ve been following the All veterinarians take an oath to use their
antibiotic-free trend in the US poultry industry “scientific knowledge and skills…for the
for many years. Not that long ago, the thought protection of animal health and welfare…”
of raising broilers on a large scale without ionophores or other I know most veterinarians involved with ABF programs in the US;
intestinal health antibiotics would have seemed foolhardy. they are all highly skilled and deeply committed to the health and
But that has changed in recent years, as we’ve learned how best welfare of the birds under their care. On the other hand, we know
to grow and manage antibiotic-free (ABF) flocks. This has come ABF production often increases disease pressure and mortality,
at a cost of lost efficiency for most operations, but these practices which puts our science-driven profession at an ethical crossroads.
have allowed poultry companies to reduce or eliminate antibiotic
use in a portion or all of their production with varying degrees The new FDA antimicrobial guidelines are here — and we all
of success. need to fully understand them. Most of the industry understands
that we can still use feed antibiotics for treating, controlling and
The integrators who implemented ABF production chose to enter preventing disease. However, some may not appreciate that there
this market — and there are valuable lessons we can learn from are still non-medically important antibiotics that have retained
them. But as the industry expands ABF production — a trend born their performance claims. FDA has deemed these products safe
mostly out of consumer perceptions, not documented public-health and effective. In my opinion, we’d do well to make judicious use
threats — we need to make sure we understand the consequences of all of the valuable, time-tested tools available to us.
of this paradigm shift:
I don’t have all the answers, but this
“No” and “never” are strong words to use when talking about much I know: There are more
antibiotics in food-animal production. If you don’t want to use conversations the poultry industry
them, fine. But we, as an industry, should not allow using needs to have with our consumers.
FDA-approved feed additive medications to somehow be perceived
as producing a product that is less wholesome. That, in essence, is T IM OT HY CU M M IN GS , DVM, PhD
what happens when ABF is used as a marketing tool. Senior Technical Services Veterinarian
[email protected]

Editor’s note: For more insights, see the results of Dr. Cummings’ ABF survey
in the June 2014 edition of PoultryUSA or at wattagnet.com.

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