Experiences with drug-free broiler production

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Poultry Production

Background:

• Antibiotic use in broiler production is increasingly scrutinized due to concerns about resistance and consumer demand for drug-free products.
• Legislation and market trends are driving the adoption of reduced-antibiotic and antibiotic-free broiler farming practices.
• Drug-free production systems can impact flock health, disease incidence, and overall production efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the consequences of drug-free broiler production programs on efficiency and disease incidence.
• To identify potential challenges, specifically clostridial enteritis, in antibiotic-free broiler farming.
• To discuss interventions and management strategies for overcoming problems in drug-free broiler production based on field experience.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 12 years of field data from a commercial broiler producer.
• Observation and documentation of disease incidence, particularly clostridial enteritis.
• Evaluation of production efficiency metrics in drug-free systems.
• Identification and assessment of interventions to manage health challenges.

Main Results:

• Drug-free broiler production can lead to increased incidence of clostridial enteritis (both clinical and subclinical).
• Overcoming these health challenges is possible but associated with increased production costs.
• Production efficiency can be variable and is dependent on specific farm management and disease control strategies.

Conclusions:

• While drug-free broiler production is feasible, it necessitates proactive management to mitigate disease risks.
• Increased costs are a significant factor in successfully implementing and maintaining antibiotic-free broiler systems.
• Field experience indicates that challenges like clostridial enteritis can be managed, but require dedicated strategies and resources.