Improved management strategies for chicken health based on emerging threats

Summary

In the face of increasing biosecurity threats to the Australian chicken meat industry, there is a need to ensure that the industry is prepared to respond to emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks. Mass culling of poultry is often required in such events in order to manage disease incursions. Culling invariably attracts animal welfare scrutiny, and there is a need for the industry to optimize animal welfare outcomes during these events. Given that mass culling can represent severe logistical restrictions, given the large numbers of animals that must be killed within tight timelines, and that such methods must be cost-effective, safe for staff, and suitable for mass application on-farm, there is a need for ongoing research into how to optimize available methods. One approach to mass culling that offers promise in theory, but is yet to be operationalized, is the administration of medications via drinking water (or feed) to assist in sedation (two-stage killing) or euthanasia (single-stage killing) of poultry.

An expert team of industry leaders in this field has been assembled, consisting of biochemists, veterinarians, and animal biologists with expertise in animal welfare science, pharmacology, and poultry medicine. This team has experience in developing and operationalizing toxin delivery systems for humane and efficient culling of unwanted animals. The proposal will meet the requirements of the request for quote (RFQ) by performing a scoping study that explores potential medications and/or toxins and/or toxicants that could be orally administered to assist with mass culling of poultry in the event of an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak.

Program

Chicken Meat

Research Organisation

Murdoch University

Objective Summary

The objective of this project is to produce a scoping study that contains detail regarding:
• Products that can be administered to broiler and broiler breeder layer birds via water and/or feed, including agent
delivery and palatability.
• Pharmaceutical, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic considerations, namely how soluble each chemical is in water, how rapidly the agent is absorbed and distributed, and impact upon clinical response.
• Products that will allow single-stage killing with minimal negative animal welfare consequences.
• Products that will allow a degree of sedation or anaesthesia sufficient to enable two-stage killing with minimal negative animal welfare consequences.
• Products that are for staff to handle and be exposed to.
• Product manufacturing, stockpiling, storage, on-farm handling and availability in Australia.
• Feasibility of registration in Australia for all investigated chemicals for commercial use in poultry production, or for off label emergency use under veterinary direction.
• Environmental impacts of use and disposal of treated birds and wastewater