Cargill’s $150k poultry facility drives research into antibiotic alternatives

Located at the University of Arkansas System Division Of Agriculture at the Fayetteville campus, the 4,200ft 2 facility, which is named the Cargill Poultry Research Centre, will help scientists work towards reducing the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture. The facility will be used by poultry health researchers, flock management specialists and nutritionists within the Division of Agriculture, including graduate students and post-doctoral employees, to develop probiotics and other products for commercialisation purposes. “ Our goal is to continuously work toward reducing the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture, and the work that will be done at this new facility is essential to helping achieve that objective ,” said Cargill’s turkey veterinarian Brian Wooming. Consumers worldwide are increasingly concerned about the source of poultry products and maintaining sustainability standards. Mark Cochran, vice president for agriculture at the University of Arkansas, said the facility would enable its poultry scientists to further advance the science for healthy poultry. Use of antibiotics among poultry has been a long-term issue for many countries globally, including India and Denmark, as it does not comply with their animal welfare standards. A public row broke out between non-governmental organisations in India and the country’s poultry industry over the use of antibiotics on Indian farms, while the Danish government invested DKK$12 million in a three-year research project to reduce the need for antibiotics among its pigs.

Cargill’s $150k poultry facility drives research into antibiotic alternatives

US processor Cargill has invested $150,000 in a university facility for conducting research into alternatives to the use of antibiotics in poultry as part of its strategy to boost sustainability in food.

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