A summary report published on Thursday by the Pew Charitable Trusts dives into the alternatives to antibiotics available for animal agriculture, and their potential value for the livestock and poultry industries.
Alternatives to antibiotics may include products such as probiotics, prebiotics, vaccines, and enzymes which impact the microbial populations that livestock and poultry are exposed to in their environment. The report discusses how antibiotic alternatives may be used for prevention and treatment of disease, but may also have potential for improving the growth and development of an animal. As the report reminds readers, antibiotics for the purpose of growth promotion are no longer permitted for use with agricultural animals as of January 1, 2017.
Though there may be benefits associated with the use of antibiotic alternatives, the report also cautions that some alternatives may have variable accuracy, difficulty replicating results in a livestock or poultry environment, or unintended consequences to animal health. These factors highlight the need for further research of animal health and antibiotic alternatives: a fact that was exemplified regarding the health challenges facing broiler chickens in Table 1 of the report.
The report additionally highlights the current use of antibiotic alternatives across the broiler industry with products such as probiotics, prebiotics, in-feed enzymes and phytochemicals (plant-derived compounds including essential oils). Importantly, the report emphasizes that biosecurity and farm management are key to any animal health plan.
For a link to the full report, please click here. For more information about broiler chicken health and the use of antimicrobials, visit Chicken Check In.
