A recent WATT-Rennier Poultry Confidence Index poll predicted substantial changes in the use of antibiotics for broiler production.
In five years, 70 percent of respondents predicted that most antibiotic usage would be for the treatment of sick flocks, while the no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) category would represent 28 percent of broiler production.
Seventy percent of respondents agreed that most antibiotics will be used to treat only sick broiler flocks within 5 years.
Although specific baseline comparisons are lacking, many would agree these forecasts represent substantial changes from today’s production environment.
If these predictions hold true, NAE would essentially be tied with "conventional" production, with both ahead of programs that conform to U.S. Food and Drug Agency or World Health Organization standards.
In five years, excluding the treatment of sick animals, respondents predicted only 30 percent of U.S. broiler production would be under conventional programs.
Many respondents felt the “consumer will drive production” and “(NAE) does work with the right conditions.” However, a sizable group thought “therapeutic remedies for poultry disease will still be needed for common problems seen in flocks.”
Finally, 71 percent of respondents said it was important to have new animal-only/never-human antibiotics over the next five years, although some mentioned that “consumers will perceive (any) antibiotic usage as bad” regardless of its classification by regulatory agencies.
Seventy-one percent of repsondents agree it will be important to have new animal-only/never-human antobiotics.
FDA Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) protocols are applicable to all programs.
Read more from Greg Rennier: www.WATTAgNet.com/authors/1641
