As has been reported elsewhere in this Newsletter, the first WPSA UK Branch Annual Meeting to be held at the new venue of the University of York was judged by all to be a great success. Congratulations and thanks go to Paul Rose and his Programme Committee for all the behind-the-scenes work which enabled this event to take place.
A full programme of twenty two papers occupied the main part of the one and a half days of the Meeting, with sessions of submitted papers on Environment and Behaviour, Nutrition and Physiology.
Three excellent invited papers made up the joint WPSA/BSAS Mini-Symposium on the important topic of “Alternatives to Antimicrobials”. Professor David Taylor of the University of Glasgow kicked off with “The effects of antimicrobials and their alternatives” asking whether the latter can match the performance of the former. He reminded his audience that less therapeutic and prophylactic products are now available and, recognising concerns about residues, less of both are being used. Prof Taylor listed and briefly discussed the main groups of products available for use, pointing out that antimicrobial growth promoters act consistently to improve growth by 5-10%, demonstrating that previous performance was depressed and that, if no growth promoters or additives are used, we see slower growth, stunted villi and other negative effects.
“Solving problems of necrotic enteritis” was the title of the second paper in the session, presented by Dr Chris Morrow of Ross Breeders Ltd. This disease has reappeared widely following the removal of antibiotic growth promoters and has been noted as early as 7 days in some UK flocks, requiring treatment of the causative agent Clostridium perfringens (CP) with penicillin or related compounds. CP is also seen to cause a range of other enteric syndromes and all of these are more common in some broiler integrations than in others. Dr Morrow suggested a range of potential solutions including the design of coccidiosis shuttle programmes, anti-stress management recommendations and nutrition.
Dr Johan Inborr completed the line-up by posing the question “Swedish poultry production without in-feed antibiotics - an opportunity for Clostridia?” He believed that, following the ban on the non-therapeutic use of antibacterial feed additives, the Swedish poultry industry had been forced to improve both management and feed formulation, resulting in more efficient and “safer” production. Following a long period of readjustment and, as long as the ionophore coccidiostats are used, the ban on in-feed antibiotics does not now appear to have increased the incidence of Clostridia infections in the long term.
Breaks during the meeting allowed members to view an increased number of 25 well presented posters on the main topics under discussion - Behaviour and Environment, Physiology and Growth Performance and Nutrition.
The overall well-balanced and practical programme has certainly set a high standard for future years. Next year we meet again in York on 9 and 10 April.
Gordon Memorial Lecture
A very welcome return to the UK was made by Professor Ian Duncan, currently Professor of Poultry Ethology at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Recipient of the Robert Fraser Gordon medal for 2001, his inspiring lecture addressed the fascinating issue “What is welfare?” Interspersed with liberal quotations from a wide variety of often unusual sources, he followed his lecture with a never to be forgotten after dinner rendition of the whole of Robert Burns’ Tam O’Shanter. Brilliant!
Professor Ian Duncan (right) receives his Gordon Memorial Medal from Professor Peter Biggs