Antibiotic-free and reduced antibiotic use in broiler production: Coccidiosis prevention

The production of chickens raised without antibiotics (RWA) in the United States (US) has steadily grown during the last decade. The current production of RWA chickens is estimated to have surpassed 50% of the total chickens produced. This trend started in response to concerns raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the emergence of multi-antimicrobial resistant human pathogens. RWA production has been accelerated by demands made and pressure applied by consumer activists’ groups on regulatory agencies, grocery retailers, fast-food outlets, restaurant chains and poultry companies. In turn, large buyers of chicken products have demanded that broiler companies supplying them comply with these demands.

In some instances, marketing campaigns initiated by fast-food outlets, restaurant chains, or poultry companies themselves have resulted in the increased production of RWA chickens. As the RWA segment of poultry production continues to grow, veterinarians and production managers must practice more diverse management practices to prevent and control disease. Read more