Surveys

With input from AFBI, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the Food Standards Agency (NI) and the major poultry companies, the Northern Ireland survey was designed to complement a similar survey carried out in Great Britain. A sample of the last feed fed before slaughter, samples of broilers at slaughter, and a questionnaire on feeding practices were analysed for the surveyed flocks. A low prevalence of non-compliant results for this licensed feed additive in broilers was found in both surveys, demonstrating near-optimal feed management within the industry, and confirming current concepts for general best practice. A novel relationship between flock parameters and results suggested by the Northern Ireland survey results is of interest at a time of change in the industry.