-Caveat Lector- http://www.newswise.com/articles/1999/9/ICAAC03.ASM.html American Society for Microbiology 28-Sep-99 Chicken Production Is Profitable without Antibiotic Growth-Promoters Library: MED Keywords: CHICKEN FARM ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE FOOD Description: Results from Denmark show that chicken meat can be produced profitably without the use of antimicrobial growth promoters. 9/27/1999 <<...>> CHICKEN PRODUCTION IS PROFITABLE WITHOUT ANTIBIOTIC GROWTH PROMOTERS Presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy September 26-29, 1999, San Francisco, California Contact: Jim Sliwa -- (202) 942-9297 -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [September 25-29: (415) 978-3640] EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 1999, 9:30 A.M. P.D.T. Primary Author: Hanne-Dorthe Emborg Danish Zoonosis Centre, Danish Veterinary Laboratory +45 35 30 01 00 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Results from Denmark show that chicken meat can be produced profitably without the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). On February 15, 1998 the Danish poultry industry voluntarily stopped all use of AGPs for broilers. The industry feared this would result in losses due to decreased productivity and increased disease problems. Instead, the industry has gained from the withdrawal of AGPs because of a significant decrease in the overall consumption of antimicrobials, resulting in an overall increased profit of 25 cents per 100 birds. Reduced exposure of consumers to resistant bacteria from chicken meat will also be the result of withdrawal of AGPs. The Danish Poultry Council provided all data about productivity, and the statistics are based on data from almost all flocks slaughtered in Denmark in 1998, totaling more than 100 million birds. Danpo A/S, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Poultry, has provided disease statistics. In 1998, they slaughtered just under 50 million birds and their data show that the withdrawal of AGPs did not result in major disease problems in the flocks. The work is presented at the 39th ICAAC conference in San Francisco and will be presented at Monday, September 27th, 1999 at 9:30 to 11:00 AM. In May 1995, the Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries banned the use of the antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP) avoparcin in Denmark. The ban was imposed when it was documented that avoparcin was associated with occurrence of vancomycin resistance, an antimicrobial used in human medicine. In January 1998, a second AGP virginiamycin was banned, and finally, on February 15, 1998 the broiler industry voluntarily discontinued all use of AGPs. The Danish Poultry Council has recorded productivity data for the commercial Danish broiler production since 1975. These data provide valuable information on the effects of the withdrawal of AGPs on productivity and profitability. Based on data from 1998 the mean feed consumption at 42 days of age did increase from 1.78 kg feed to 1.82 kg per kg live bird after withdrawal of AGPs and has remained above 1.81 kg. The slaughter weight at 42 days of age initially decreased from 1,960g to 1,930g, but has since increased, and in 1999 the mean weight at 42 days is well above 2,000g, Table 1. Data from the central database and from Danpo A/S show no increase in the general morbidity of commercial broiler flocks since AGPs were withdrawn. But as expected there has been a modest increase in the number of flocks suffering from the Clostridium perfringens related diseases, necrotic enteritis and chronic hepatitis. In, 1998 Danpo produced about 1,700 flocks. The first year after the AGPs were withdrawn, necrotic enteritis and chronic hepatitis were diagnosed in 25 flocks compared to 1-2 flocks per year when AGPs were used. A total of 24 kg amoxicillin (active compound) was used to treat the outbreaks. Alternatively, without the voluntary stop the Danpo flocks would have used 1,500 kg active compound of AGPs, primarily avilamycin but also bacitracin. The profitability of the withdrawal of AGPs is based on figures from Danpo A/S. Costs: - Necrotic enteritis was diagnosed in 25 out of 1,700 Danpo flocks. Splitting the costs equally on all broilers slaughtered at Danpo resulted in an average cost of 4 cents per 100 broilers. - The increased mean feed consumption at 42 days of age increased the production cost per 100 broilers by 114 cents - All together an extra cost per 100 broilers of 118 cents. Benefits: - The exclusion of AGPs from the feed reduced the costs per 100 broilers with 143 cents on average. The overall profit increased by 25 cents per 100 broilers on average. In conclusion, the Danish experience shows that it is possible for the Danish broiler producers to compete internationally after the withdrawal of AGPs. The additional and significant benefit for the consumer is a reduced risk of exposure to resistant bacteria from broilers. ### ======================= Robert F. Tatman Computer Help Desk Desktop & LAN Services Systems Department Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. 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