GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Many people across the country wonder if poultry receives growth hormones. The answer to this question is “no,” according to a study done by the Poultry Science Department of Mississippi State University. The department explained that hormones have not been used and have been banned since the 1950s.
The poultry industry and the cattle industry follow contrasting regulations. In 1956, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration established that the cattle industry could use growth hormones to promote development, feed productivity and carcass strength.
As of today, there are five hormones implants that are used for cattle, such as progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, zeranol and trenbolone acetate. Zeranol and trenbolone acetate are synthetic hormones that are watched closely by the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service. Due to the residue of these products, the FSIS must secure the safety of the beef supply. When beef cattle are under a feedlot, growth hormones implants are necessary. Cattle receive these implants in the form of a pellet. It is surgically placed under the skin and behind the ears. The implants are to not enter the digestive tract; therefore, they are put behind the ears. Over 100 to 120 days, the implant will slowly dissolve and let go of the hormone.
The cattle spend over 100-200 days in the feedlot, as a result these implants are crucial. The study says while growth implants are needed for beef cattle, steroid hormones are not used in chickens, dairy cattle, veal or pigs. If growth hormones were put into the food of poultry, they would not be successful. There is a difference between steroid hormones and protein hormones. Steroid hormones are to be consumed internally because they will stay active through the digestive system. Nevertheless, protein hormones lose their function as they go through the digestive tract. Protein hormones must be injected.
Hypothetically, if chickens were to receive growth hormone injections, they would need them numerous times a day. It is not logical for chickens to receive that many injections because there are too many chickens. Broiler chicken producers have an estimated 20,000 chickens.
The study cites three reasons for the rapid growth of poultry:
1. The success of primary breeder companies in selecting the best birds for growth and performance.
2. Research related to nutritional requirements of the bird.
3. Academics understand the kind of environment the bird needs to make the most of its genetic and nutritional potential.
Antibiotic use in poultry
Antibiotics are used in poultry and humans to treat infections. In 2019, the National Chicken Council stated in a press release “Much like a companion animal veterinarian would use de-worming compounds to prevent illness in a puppy, chicken producers and veterinarians use compounds to prevent and treat disease in the birds they raise in the
field. Waiting until the disease actually takes hold would pose animal welfare issues and likely reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.”
The FDA and the manufacturers regulate any ionophore, antibiotic and non-antibiotic coccidiostat with strict measures. The USDA closely watches the removal times of medication that is given to a bird so it can be slaughtered without any medication within its system.
The NCC gives example of some antibiotics that are used:
· Bacitracin: is an antibiotic used to prevent necrotic enteritis in broilers, an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium. Bacitracin is found most commonly as a topical preparation in human medicine, such as triple antibiotic ointments but is not used for any other purpose in humans. It is not on the list of antibiotics considered by the FDA as medically important in humans.
· Chlortetracycline: is a Tetracycline antibiotic that is primarily used in broilers for preventing and treating diseases. It was phased out for growth promotion purposes in livestock and poultry in 2016 under the FDA’s guidance plan.
· Decoquinate: is not an antibiotic. It is a non-antibiotic coccidiostat used in veterinary medicine for the control of coccidiosis, a debilitating protozoal infection in poultry. Decoquinate has no human usage.
· Diclazuril: is not an antibiotic. It is a non-antibiotic coccidiostat used in veterinary medicine for the control of coccidiosis, a debilitating protozoal infection in poultry. Diclazuril has no human usage.
· Naracin: is an ionophore used for the prevention of coccidiosis and has no human usage.
· Nicarbazin: is not an antibiotic. It is a non-antibiotic coccidiostat used for prevention and control of coccidiosis in broilers. When combined with naracin, makes the brand name product, “Maxiban.” Nicarbazin has no human usage.
· Monensin: is an ionophore used for the prevention of coccidiosis and has no human usage.
· Penicillin: is an antibiotic that is used very infrequently in broiler production. Its only use is to treat flocks that succumb to gangrenous dermatitis, another clostridial disease – which is uncommon, but has occurred at a low rate. Penicillin use has not been a standard practice for the purposes of growth promotion in broilers, but it was phased out for growth promotion purposes in livestock and poultry in 2016 under the FDA’s guidance plan.
· Robenedine Hydrochloride: is not an antibiotic. It is a non-antibiotic coccidiostat used in veterinary medicine for the control of coccidiosis, a debilitating protozoal infection in poultry. Robenedine has no human usage.
· Tylosin: is a Macrolide antibiotic that is used in veterinary medicine to prevent necrotic enteritis in broilers, an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium. It is a medically important antibiotic, and it was phased out for growth promotion purposes in livestock and poultry in 2016 under the FDA’s guidance plan.
· Virginiamycin: is a Streptogramin antibiotic used strategically to prevent necrotic enteritis, an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium. It is a medically important antibiotic, and it was phased out for growth promotion purposes in livestock and poultry in 2016 under the FDA’s guidance plan.
There are no antibiotics within chicken meat. The USDA ensures that all chickens must be clean of antibiotics before being processed.
