Although hormones and steroids are not used in meat chickens in Australia, antibiotics are. These are being used to reduce bacterial infections in the flock and improve both bird health and growth, as well as maintain the numbers available for slaughter. They have an important economic and health impact.

Antibiotics are a key part of the husbandry  and maintenance of our meat chickens.

The problem with the regular use of growth promoting antibiotics is that bacteria eventually build up immunity to them. This is becoming a significant issue in our chicken industry. There is much research happening to address the increasing important issue.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA has just introduced draft guidelines aimed at reducing growth-promoting antibiotic use.

This is being done as the FDA is recognising the link between use of these antibiotics and the increasing drug resistance of bacteria in humans.

At this stage the requirements are only in draft form for review by the industry and community. Farming groups are however, already saying that using growth promoting antibiotic alternatives will inevitably increase meat prices.

Bernadette Dunham, the Director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said: “Using medically important antimicrobial drugs as judiciously as possible is key to minimizing resistance development and preserving the effectiveness of these drugs as therapies for humans and animals.

“FDA is committed to working with animal drug sponsors, the veterinary and public health communities, the animal agriculture community, and all other interested stakeholders in developing a practical strategy to address antimicrobial resistance concerns that is protective of both human and animal health.”

.To find out more about the draft guidelines go to www.fda.gov