The use of antibiotics in the poultry industry

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to set up a pilot project for identifying antibiotics and/or their active metabolites in broiler meat and poultry eggs. Samples of poultry meal and eggs were randomly collected from authorised and non-authorised points of sale distributed all over the Maltese islands. These samples were tested using the Brilliant Black Reduction Test method (BR Test), specifically for meat, ophils and whole-egg material. Results obtained indicated that such residues were present in some of the samples collected. 5.77% of the femoral muscle samples tested positive. Similarly 11.11% of breast muscle samples and 27.78% of skin samples were positive. In addition, for all three types of poultry meat samples, a considerable fraction of the samples gave an intermediate result, 11.54% in femoral samples, 5.56% in breast muscle samples and 16.67% in skin samples. Overall broiler skin samples were found to be the most contaminated. Of the forty eight whole egg samples that were screened, 20.83% tested positive or intermediate. A review of the latest literature concerning the use of antibiotics in poultry diseases was conducted. On similar lines, data on the general state of the local industry vis a vis the world situation was also included.