UK poultry producer to trial new Campylobacter control

U.K. poultry producer Banham Poultry has entered a partnership to help develop a feed additive that will aid in controlling Campylobacter infection in chickens.
The company is working with Akeso Biomedical and will use the latter’s Fe3C technology to reduce Campylobacter levels in its broilers. The technology, discovered by the University of Nottingham, prevents the binding of Campylobacter to the chicken’s gastrointestinal tract and subsequent infection.
Initial trials began in April, and in preliminary studies Akeso’s feed additive resulted in dramatically reduced infection levels in birds. As part of the development process, it is anticipated that Banham will evaluate the feed additives in commercial trials.
Lars Brattinga, general manager agriculture at Banham Poultry said: “This is a really exciting project for the industry. To reduce levels of Campylobacter, we need to take action throughout the supply chain. We still don’t know the source of Campylobacter, which is what makes it so difficult to control.”