Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Commercial Poultry News

In This Issue:

2 - FARM Act Getting

Wide Support

3 - Animal Feed for Thought

4 - Baker, Timmons to Lead Delmarva Poultry

Industry

5 - Kansas Bill Would Set

Standards for Poultry

Farms

- Chicken Feet Are a Big

Deal

6 - Asian Countries Continue

To Battle Avian Flu in

Poultry

8 - Tyson Foods Unveils

New Innovations

9 - Marketing vs. Medicine:

Finding the Balance

Upcoming Events

On-Farm CommercialPoultry Growers Field Day

Poultry MortalityComposting Short Course &Demonstration

On-Farm Commercial Poultry Field Day

The Universities of Maryland and Delaware Extensions, in conjunction with Delmarva

Poultry Industry, Inc., will be hosting an on-the-farm field day for commercial poultry

growers on March 28, 2018. There will be educational opportunities as well as vendors

on hand to talk with growers. More details will be made available soon.

The field day will offer practical workshops, beneficial to both beginning and experienced

commercial chicken growers.

When: Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (RSVP by March 21)

Where: Rob Haskins Farm, 971 Cloverfield Lane, Harrington, DE 19952

“RAIN OR SHINE”

Register at: https://goo.gl/forms/VZMou3WULmqIk1Iw1

Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., with sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m.

There will be concurrent sessions held each hour on the hour, and the event will end at

3:00 p.m. Nutrient management credits will be available.

Pre-registration is required as space is limited to the first 300 registrants. Lunch will be

provided.

For more information contact: James Fisher, 302-856-9037, fisher@dpichicken.com or

Lisa Collins, 302-856-2585, lcollins@udel.edu

Biosecurity! We want to practice good biosecurity as we come together. As a

reminder, see the updated versions of the biosecurity videos from University of Maryland:

Avian Influenza Commercial Farmers 2018 (English): https://youtu.be/n00MS2-yng8

Avian Influenza Commercial Farmers 2018 (Spanish): https://youtu.be/2b1ckLYU5v8

Avian Influenza Technical Service Personnel 2018 (English): https://youtu.be/

TtJ4eCYrhBw

Avian Influenza Technical Service Personnel 2018 (Spanish): https://youtu.be/

CpbBhKaPv0U

Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

(Feb. 27, 2018) There’s a piece of legislation sailing through the U.S. Senate which has attracted the support of

enthusiastic lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. As well it should.

It’s known by its acronym, FARM — the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act.

It would clarify that routine emissions from chickens and farm animals and their manure are not reportable under the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.

CERCLA requires facilities to report releases of hazardous substances that exceed certain threshold quantities within a

24-hour period.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations supported a rule exempting most farms from the need to report ammonia

and hydrogen sulfide emissions.

Ultimately, the Environmental Protection Agency, revamped under the Trump administration, backed them up.

Since activist groups successfully blocked the exemption ruling last year in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the court

has awarded the EPA two extensions of its original Nov. 15, 2017 deadline, first to Jan. 22, 2018 and now to May 1.

The FARM Act would simply reinstate EPA’s 2008 exemption for reporting animal and poultry waste emissions under

CERCLA.

Obviously, the Senate is looking to the House of Representatives to introduce the FARM legislation, aware that it

faces a May 1 deadline to get the act on the books.

FARM has wide support within the agricultural industry.

The bill has won applause from The National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council, U.S. Poultry & Egg

Association, United Egg Producers, National Pork Producers Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“Congress enacted Superfund and emergency response laws to provide the tools needed to quickly respond to

hazardous waste emergencies. Emissions from animals raised on farms and ranches were never intended to be swept

into these reporting requirements,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We urge Congress to act swiftly to pass this

legislation before the reporting requirement overwhelms our first responders and burdens farmers and ranchers with

needless reporting obligations and the risk of activist lawsuits.”

“Passing this bill would provide much-needed clarity for chicken growers, who have been struggling to keep up with

changing deadlines and uncertain guidance about their CERCLA compliance requirements,” said Bill Satterfield,

executive director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. “We are hopeful that its Senate passage, and the introduction

and passage of companion legislation in the House of Representatives, will lead to legislation delivered to the White

House before May 1.”

The bill is already receiving overwhelming support from both sides of the congressional aisle, underscoring that this

is not a partisan issue, but rather another example of activist groups seeking to control America’s farmland.

We are encouraged by the fact that FARM, at least at the moment, seems to have closed the partisan gap which

dysfunctions our federal government, particularly in the face of outrageous environmentalism.

On a bipartisan basis, Congress might just get this one done.

FARM Act Getting Wide Support Delmarva Farmer - AFP Staff, February 23, 2018

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22 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

IPPE panel discussion tackles one of the animal feed industry’s hottest topics

In the March issue of Feed Strategy magazine, WATT’s annual 2018 Poultry Nutrition & Feed Survey revealed that 43

percent of respondents report that antibiotic restrictions pose the greatest challenge to their operation’s formulation

program and/or feed costs.

At the “Antibiotic growth promoters (AGP): Feed additive alternatives & replacement strategies” roundtable discussion,

held at the 2018 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) and sponsored by Provimi, three panelists

addressed this pressing topic.

The event, which was booked to capacity, centered around how animal feed additives can be leveraged to maintain

and enhance health and performance in post-AGP poultry production.

“There are lot of alternative additives that have a lot more than just antimicrobial modulation or modes of action,” said

Dr. Maarten De Gussem, a poultry nutrition consultant and founder of Vetworks. “You should try to find where are the

loopholes in your antibiotic strategy and where can your alternative additives to help fill that gap.”

The group shared their experiences with different additive categories. Dr. Raj Murugesan, technical director with

Biomin, noted that producers have found success in the use of phytogenic feed additives, probiotics, prebiotics and

additives used in combination.

“Phytogenics seem to be working out pretty well overall because they have the complex mode of action with their

antioxidant and antimicrobial abilities, and their sensory component increases feed intake,” Murugesan said.

NAE production in action Running parallel with the importance of nutrition and gut health, the panel agreed that on

-farm management (hygiene, biosecurity) plays a huge role in a successful program.

“When you go about raising no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) birds in a methodical way, you do not have to give up on

production or welfare to do that, but you must go about it with a plan and work on [continuous improvement]

strategies,” saidDr. Randy Mitchell, vice president – technical services, Perdue Foods.

Mitchell, who has been instrumental in Perdue’s shift to NAE production, shared best practices from the company’s

journey and offered attendees advice on making the transition.

“The management at the farm is more important than anything we can do with the feed outside of making sure that

we don’t have just terrible feed ingredients from a standpoint of a successful NAE program,” Mitchell reported,

stressing that clear communication with the growers from the onset is key.

For those of you who were unable to attend, a gallery of video clips from the 2018 IPPE antibiotic replacement and elimination panel can be see at:

https: //www.wattagnet .com/blogs/21 -animal- feed-for-thought/post/33550-whats-your-ant ib iot ic- replacement-strategy?

utm_source=KnowledgeMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Poultry%20Update&utm_campaign=18_02_22_Poultry%

20Update_Thursday&eid=386829302&bid=2012018

Animal Feed for Thought

What’s Your Antibiotic Replacement Strategy? Jackie Roembke for WATTSAgNet.com February 20, 2018

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33 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

EASTON — Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. has elected two leaders In agricultural research and education for 2018

leadership roles, the trade association announced on Jan. 15.

Todd Baker, a manager for Cobb-Vantress Inc., is serving as DPI’s president for the year. Jennifer Timmons, an

assistant professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a chicken grower, is DPI’s vice president.

DPI’s past president, Dean Walston, director of operations for the Milford processing plant of Perdue Foods,

continues to serve as a DPI director and remains on its executive committee.

Baker, a native of the Eastern Shore, grew up on a family farm that raised chickens. With a background in business

management, he joined Perdue Farms as a flock supervisor in 1997 and went on to assume operations and

production management positions.

Baker now manages broiler breeder research on Delmarva for Cobb-Vantress in its Pocomoke City facility. Baker

joined DPI’s Board of Directors in 2016, and he served as vice president in 2017.

“I’m excited to help DPI work for the betterment of the chicken community,” Baker said. “Every day, we go to work for

our chicken growers, chicken companies, and allied businesses all around Delmarva.”

“Putting our 1,800-member organization on an even stronger financial footing helps us do that, so I plan to grow our

membership and keep the chicken industry strong,” Baker said.

Timmons is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she teaches poultry production

and animal nutrition to future leaders of the chicken industry. Timmons also conducts research connected to poultry

litter management and animal nutrition, focusing on controlling ammonia in chicken litter, which is one of the

industry’s key environmental stewardship measures. With her husband, Tim, she owns and operates a broiler chicken

farm at her home near Delmar, Del.

“Chicken growers are constantly refining and improving how they farm, how they conserve resources, and how they

make their chickens healthier,” Timmons said.

“DPI plays a key role in linking growers to research and helping them connect with each other to share best practices.

I’m eager to make DPI an even better resource for growers and to help strengthen an already-robust part of

Delmarva’s economy,” Timmons said.

Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. is the 1,800-member nonprofit trade association for the Delmarva Peninsula’s meat

chicken industry. For more information, visit dpichicken.org.

Baker, Timmons to Lead Delmarva

Poultry Industry Kent County News/On The Farm January 16, 2018

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44 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Shutter stock

Senate Bill 405 calls for rules related to bird population size and proximity to homes

The Kansas legislature is considering a bill that sets guidelines for future poultry farms to be located in the state.

Under Senate Bill 405, introduced in the Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee, poultry barns in Kansas

could not be closer than a quarter of a mile from an occupied home, excluding a homestead located on the

same property with the chicken barns. The bill also would require farms with more than 125,000 broilers or

82,000 layers to obtain a federal permit, according to a report by the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Presently, Kansas is not a state that has a significant amount of poultry production. Cal-Maine Foods does have

an egg operation near the central Kansas community of Chase, but the state lacks sizeable broiler operations.

However, the need for laws pertaining to poultry production became more relevant in 2017, when Tyson

Foods announced plans to build a new poultry complex that included a poultry plant, feed mill and hatchery in

the northeastern Kansas community of Tonganoxie. Following public opposition and withdrawn support from

elected officials, Tyson Foods backed away from its plans to build in Tonganoxie and instead announced plans

to build in Humboldt, Tennessee. However, the company stated that it would continue to consider other

locations in Kansas for future poultry complexes.

Cloud County, which is located in north-central Kansas, is one community that has expressed an interest in

attracting a broiler complex. An economic development official there voiced support for the bill.

“The minute this becomes statute, you will be putting an open sign at our borders,” said Ashely Hutchinson,

executive director of Cloud County Economic Development. “Give us the tools we need to bring in agriculture

economic development in rural America.”

The bill also has the support of Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey, Kansas Farm Bureau, the

Kansas Livestock Association and faculty members from Kansas State University.

Chicken Feet Are a Big Deal By Jennifer Timmons in the Delmarva Farmer

(Jennifer Timmons is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.)

(Feb. 6, 2018) Prior to the 1980s, the feet (or “paws”) of broiler chickens were not marketable and were sent to

rendering along with other parts of the chicken such as feathers and blood. However, in the mid-1980s, an

export market for broiler paws began to develop, and paw quality gained more attention.

A chicken “paw” is the part of the leg below the spur; a chicken foot includes the foot as well as the portion of

the leg below the feather line.

The continuing demand for paws in the overseas market has turned the feet into the third most valuable part of

the chicken, behind the breast and wings.

Because of this, lesions caused by foot pad dermatitis are a major economical concern to the poultry industry.

Kansas Bill Would Set Standards for Poultry Farms WATTAgNet.com February 14, 2018

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55 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Foot pad dermatitis is the development of lesions on the foot pad of the bird, but may occur on any area of the foot

that is in contact with the floor. The initial signs of foot pad dermatitis are small erosions and discoloration of the skin.

If the condition continues, it can develop into painful ulcers.

These lesions can heal if litter conditions are improved, but it is best to try to prevent the incidence of foot pad

dermatitis rather than treat the occurrence of this condition. Litter moisture content is the major cause for the

development of foot pad dermatitis. Birds are in continued contact with bedding material. Bedding is used to provide

insulation from the ground and absorb moisture.

As the moisture level increases in the bedding, and birds rest and walk on this wet bedding it begins to soften and

eventually breaks down the outer layers of the skin on their feet. This results in the formation of foot pad dermatitis

lesions. Therefore, in order to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of foot pad dermatitis, it is important to control the

moisture in broiler houses.

Moisture in broiler houses comes from the birds (respiration and manure), drinkers and heating systems.

Fresh bedding should have a particle size of around a quarter-inch, and the moisture content for fresh bedding used

for broiler houses should be less than 20 percent.

Bedding with smaller particle size will absorb more moisture compared to bedding with larger particle size. In

addition, bedding with larger particle sizes will cake faster The depth of the bedding should be a minimum of three

inches. Providing less than three inches will result in poor insulation and cooler floors with a faster saturation of the

litter.

The relative humidity in the house should be maintained between 50-70 percent. If the humidity increases above 70

percent, the floors of the house can become wet and high ammonia levels and caking will occur. A relative humidity

meter can be used to routinely check the humidity levels in broiler houses and make adjustments if necessary to the

ventilation to maintain litter quality.

Drinker system design and how drinkers are managed also play an essential role in the amount of moisture in the litter

and the incidence of foot pad dermatitis in a flock. Drinker height and water pressure should be managed properly to

prevent wet litter and maintain bird performance.

Birds should be uniformly distributed throughout the entire broiler house to promote bird health and performance

along with maintaining good litter quality. If birds are crowded in the front end of the house, the litter will become

much wetter compared to the litter in the back end of the house.

Using migration fences will help to ensure birds are evenly distributed throughout the house.

Another factor that can help reduce litter moisture is a healthy intestinal tract. Any challenges to the intestinal system

can cause enteritis which often causes diarrhea, flushing and feed passage.

All of these result in wet litter conditions.

The incidence of foot pad dermatitis is complex issue for the poultry industry.

Any reduction will improve bird health and performance, and have great economic benefits.

Knowing that wet litter is a primary contributor to this condition, managing the house environment to prevent the

incidence will result in good paw quality. This proactive approach promotes animal welfare and contributes to

positive financial outcomes.

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66 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Asian Countries Continue to Battle Avian Flu in Poultry By Jackie Linden WATTSAgNews.com February 19, 2018

Africa, Middle East also face new cases of avian influenza

While Taiwan’s poultry sector continues its long running battle against highly pathogenic avian influenza

(HPAI), new outbreaks have been reported in Cambodia, Ghana, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. From

China comes news of the first human case in the world involving an H7N4 influenza virus of avian origin.

Within the last week, Taiwan’s animal health agency has reported 22 new outbreaks of HPAI linked to the

H5N2 virus subtype to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The majority of the outbreaks — on

farms across seven counties — were in meat ducks, while seven more were in native chickens and two in

geese. In total, almost 166,000 birds were lost to the disease through mortality or de-

struction during the period from January 4 through February 5.

A low-pathogenic form of the H5N6 virus is also circulating in the Taiwanese poultry

sector. The variant has been detected at a farm with meat ducks in Yunlin county, and

all 2,646 birds have been culled as a precaution against further spread. This subtype

had been detected previously at two duck farms in Nantou county.

South Korea’s agriculture ministry has informed OIE about one new outbreak of HPAI

caused by the H5N6 virus variant. Latest to be affected was a flock of 21,000 laying

hens in South Chungcheong province, where an outbreak had been confirmed the previous week. Around

140 birds died, and the rest have been destroyed.

Following unusual mortality and morbidity in a backyard flock in Cambodia, the presence of the H5N1 HPAI

virus was confirmed, according to the official report to the OIE. The latest cases were in the province of

Kandal, which is in the south of the country and borders Vietnam.

Just one week after declaring the H5N6 HPAI situation in the region to be “resolved,“ Hong Kong’s

veterinary authority has sent an Immediate Notification to the OIE regarding the return of the virus to the

wild bird population. A gull found dead near to a wetland nature park tested positive for the virus. No signs

of the disease have been seen in poultry at two farms within three kilometers of the dead wild bird.

New human flu case of avian origin confirmed in China

China’s medical authority, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, has confirmed the world’s

first ever human case of avian influenza A(H7N4), according to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection.

The patient, a woman from Jiangsu province, had previous contact with poultry, and genetic analysis

revealed the virus to be of avian origin. Following a period of hospitalization, the patient recovered.

There has also been one new confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in China, according to CHP.

The latest patient, from Guangdong province, brings the number of global cases since March of 2013 to

1,567. One new case of avian influenza A(H5N6) reported last month puts the total number of cases linked

to this virus since 2014 at 19.

Middle East: New HPAI outbreaks in poultry in Iraq, Saudi Arabia

The number of outbreaks of HPAI linked to the H5N8 virus subtype in Saudi Arabia since December 2017

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77 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

has risen to 15. The three latest outbreaks reported to the OIE by the agriculture ministry were in backyard

flocks, and led to the death or destruction of 945 birds. Two of the flocks were in the central province of

Riyadh, and the other was in Ash Sharqiyah in the east of the Kingdom.

Iraq’s agriculture ministry has confirmed to the OIE a sixth out-

break of HPAI caused by the same virus variant. Latest to be

affected was a farm in Baghdad governorate with 29,000 birds,

almost half of which died from the disease, and the rest of the

flock has been destroyed.

Africa: New HPAI strain detected in Ghana

An HPAI virus identified as the H9N2 subtype has been

detected for the first time in the West African state of Ghana. In early January, the virus affected a layer flock

of 16,882 birds in the southern state of Brong-Ahafo. More than 4,000 of the hens died, and the rest have

been destroyed. The farm is in the district of Domaa Municipal, which borders Cote d’Ivoire, and the official

report to the OIE states that day-old chicks, spent hens, and corn for feed are frequently transported across

this international border.

Culling of birds in South Africa to control avian flu has cost 954 million Rand (ZAR; US$81.8 million at

current exchange rates), according to the South African Poultry Association in a report to the

country’s Parliament about the state of the poultry industry. There have been no new outbreaks of the

disease on commercial farms since January 9 this year, but the chairperson of the agriculture committee

highlighted the continuing risk of new cases as “some ostriches are still infected.”

Europe: More low-pathogenic avian flu in French poultry

Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the H5N3 subtype was detected at a further three locations in

France during the first week of February, according to the official report to the OIE. First was a flock of 6,000

immature turkey breeders in the north-western department of Maine-et-Loire, where the infection was

confirmed after suspicious symptoms and elevated mortality were reported. Surveillance of domestic

waterfowl prior to movement have revealed subclinical disease in waterfowl in the Gers in the south-west of

the country, and a Vendée duck flock prior to gavage.

The French ministry of agriculture last week announced two compensation schemes for the country’s

poultry farmers and processing companies whose businesses suffered losses as a result of the 2017 HPAI

outbreaks. Total budget for the schemes has been set at EUR97 million (US$120 million)—EUR77 million for

poultry producers, and a further EUR20 million for processors.

There is a low risk of the LPAI H5N3 virus mutating into an HPAI, according to the United Kingdom (U.K.)

agriculture department, Defra. A greater threat is the reassortment of this subtype with an HPAI variant from

wild birds, which makes early detection of LPAI an important tool to control such a risk.

In the U.K., another wild bird found dead has tested positive for the H5N6 HPAI virus. The latest case was a

swan in the English county of Oxfordshire.

Bulgaria’s agriculture ministry has informed OIE that the H5 HPAI disease situation that began in October

last year has been “resolved.”

With the first outbreak of H5N8 HPAI dating back to December of 2016, Russia’s veterinary authority has

declared to the OIE that the country is now free of this virus.

ENA picture

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88 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Financial discipline and strong cash flows are fueling the company's strategic intent to sustainably feed the world with the

fastest growing protein brands.

President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Hayes said on Feb. 20 that Tyson Foods is well-positioned to meet the growing

demand for protein. Speaking at the 2018 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, Hayes and members of

Tyson Foods’ enterprise leadership team shared with investors that the company is delivering on its strategy and driving

growth across the company’s portfolio of protein – from its Chicken, Beef and Pork segments to Prepared Foods.

“Tyson Foods is transforming from a company with a strong heritage in chicken to a modern food company that is challenging

the industry status quo,” Hayes said. “Consumers expect more from food companies today, and we’re up for the challenge.

We’re combining our size and scale with agility to make food people want to eat. That’s driving our business and helping us

deliver top-tier returns for shareholders.”

Strong operating cash flows, a prudent capital allocation strategy and the financial flexibility to make strategic acquisitions

position Tyson Foods to achieve long-term profitable growth. Notably, the company’s Prepared Foods segment has seen

significant growth, with operating margins more than tripling over the last four years.

To continue growing Prepared Foods and driving growth across the entire business, Tyson Foods shared the bold actions it’s

taking in three key areas:

Modernizing its $1 billion brands

Tyson Foods is innovating and brand building to keep its multiple billion-dollar brands that are already customer favorites

contemporary and relevant.

Jimmy Dean: Launching Egg’wiches in May, a new line of frozen breakfast sandwiches without the bread, plus new egg

white scrambles to build on the success of Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles Breakfast Cups, which were the best performing new

single-serve breakfast item at retail last year.

Hillshire Farm: Launching a line of premium carved all-natural meats for snacking, salads and wraps in the lunchmeat

section this spring, along with a new master brand campaign built around the idea that when you enjoy food that’s crafted with

care, you’re closer to the farm than you think.

Tyson: Launching a new consumer brand identity that is simple and modern, yet still easily recognizable to consumers and

grounded in the heritage of the company’s flagship brand.

Creating tomorrow’s iconic brands and businesses

Tyson Foods is employing a start-up mindset and moving faster than ever on new products and partnerships.

The company announced an exclusive partnership with Tajin – one of Mexico’s most authentic and recognized spice brands.

Tyson Foods will leverage its protein know-how, culinary capability and brand building expertise with Tajin through a portfolio

of new products including Tajin spiced meatballs, smoked sausage with mango and boneless chicken bites.

Changing the game with new growth models

Tyson Foods is moving beyond traditional categories and challenging conventional ways of thinking and working in the

consumer packaged goods space.

This year, the company is launching a new brand called Green Street, in-line with consumer demand for ready-to-eat

meals. Its first foray will be protein-rich grab-and-go bowls that are 100 percent plant-based. Tyson Foods is making strategic

investments through TYSON VENTURES, backing talented entrepreneurs who are pioneering breakthroughs in food and food-

focused technologies. Its initial investments included Beyond Meat, Memphis Meats and Tovala.

The company launched its Tyson INNOVATION LAB, which is about exploring new approaches to accelerate the pace of

innovation. The lab brings together a lean team of designers, chefs, scientists and supply chain experts in a dedicated space at

the company’s Chicago office and gives them six months to go from an idea to an in-market solution. For the first product

launch, they are finding opportunity in wasted food. Utilizing what goes unused in the food supply chain as ingredients, they

are developing a line of protein snacks branded “YAPPAH”.

Tyson Foods Unveils New Innovations

As Part Of Its Revolution WATTAgNews.com February 21, 2018

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Poultry health specialists at a recent roundtable expressed frustration over what they said are sometimes

misguided marketing strategies that are fueling the antibiotic-free production trend.

“We’ve got to get [these restaurants and retailers] who are beating their chests about not allowing

antibiotics to be used in animal production to understand that they’re going to be buying sick chickens —

unless they allow the targeted use of so-called shared-class drugs to keep chickens reasonably healthy.

that’s the humane and sustainable plan they should be promoting,” Practitioner 2* said.

Steve Davis, DVM, of Colorado Quality Research maintained that food vendors promoting chicken raised

without antibiotics don’t want to hear about the perils of antibiotic-free production. “what’s best for food-

marketing campaigns is not what’s best for our patients — the chickens — especially when their mortality is

doubled.”

McDonald’s policy

McDonald’s USA’s new policy permitting the use of ionophores in chickens it buys was lauded by some of

the experts, but they also said the fast-food giant didn’t get it quite right.

“[McDonald’s USA] will allow ionophores but not allow treatment, control or prevention with other

antibiotics that are approved by FDA,” Practitioner 2 argued. “So, if you treat sick chickens, McDonald’s

[USA] is not going to buy them. that’s its US policy. Its global policy allows for treating sick animals.” NC

State’s Dennis Wages, DVM said some of the antibiotics prohibited by McDonald’s USA’s policy, such as

bacitracin and virginiamycin, have no significant use in human medicine and they’re sorely needed in

poultry to prevent and control clostridia, but they won’t be used in chickens going to McDonald’s. “I think

it’s a shame,” he added.

Vocal minority

Practitioner 2 pointed out that antibiotic-free production accounts for only 15% to 20% of poultry

production in the US. the veterinarian believes those who promote this type of production want to impose

their agenda on consumers who want the same, affordable, safe products the industry has been providing

all along with the judicious use of FDA-approved medications.

The typical McDonald’s customer probably isn’t thinking about antibiotic use in food animals when

searching for an affordable meal. “But McDonald’s sales are down, they’ve got a new CEO, they’re trying to

make a difference and wanted to make a splash. we’re getting whipsawed in that marketing game,” the

veterinarian said.

Industry culpability

University of Georgia’s Charles Hofacre, PhD agreed the US poultry industry has some culpability for the

emergence of this two-tiered poultry market. “we’ve done it to ourselves,” he said, referring to some

industry and retailer marketing practices. “we’ve led the public to believe through marketing that if we can

raise 20% of chickens without antibiotics, we can do it with 100%.”

If the industry continues in this direction, Hofacre added, it’s going to steamroll so that even companies that

don’t want to will be forced to raise chickens without antibiotics. Production techniques will be driven by the

preferences of consumers who know very little about chicken production, not what’s best for flock health

and welfare.

Marketing vs. Medicine: Finding the Balance Poultry Health Today - February 2018

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1010 Commercial Poultry Newsletter FEBRUARY 2018

Roundtable moderator Lloyd Keck, DVM, of Zoetis, pointed out that market research by his company has

demonstrated that with education, consumers develop a better understanding of antibiotics and, in turn,

become more accepting of them — especially when they learn that veterinarians are involved. he asked the

panel if it might be possible to educate consumers on a broad scale about the health and welfare problems

created by antibiotic-free production.

Hofacre said it’s probably futile to try and convert a certain small segment of US consumers that have

already formed strong opinions about antibiotics in agriculture. “We need to just forget about them.” that

said, he agreed the vast majority of US consumers still don’t understand the role of antibiotics in poultry

production and that education would be helpful.

Focus on vendors

Practitioner 3* suggested that instead of trying to educate consumers, producers should consider educating

food vendors — a smaller group of decision makers with a vested interest in food safety.

“We’ve been bringing [in] our customers, who are large food vendors — the ones who make the decisions

about the type of chicken their companies buy…we let them go through our facilities, including our

hatcheries and farms.

“I have a window of opportunity when I give a presentation on antibiotic usage. I tell them that ‘I’m a

veterinarian and I have a family.’ I always show a picture of my family and say, ‘you know, I feed my two

small children conventional chicken.’ And then I talk about the oath, the veterinary oath, and it seems to

resonate,” Practitioner 3 said.

Visit our University of Maryland Poultry Extension page at: https://extension.umd.edu/poultry

for latest news, bulletins, and events.