title: Monensin carry-over into unmedicated broiler feeds.
abstract: European Union Member States are now required to monitor poultry meat for the presence of coccidiostat residues. Among other factors contributing to the production of residue-free food is the ability of animal feed manufacturers to produce medication-free feedstuffs, ensuring the proper observance of withdrawal periods prior to slaughter. Carry-over of medication was investigated in a local poultry feed mill that was using monensin as its principal coccidiostat for broilers. Monensin, at levels in excess of 5% of the therapeutic dose (approximately 110 mg kg-1), was present in 22.5% of 40 withdrawal feeds. Subsequent studies in the mill indicated that most of the contamination occurred during the processing of feeds after the mixing stage. The mill altered its manufacturing process as a result of this study. The consequence of this was that the incidence of monensin withdrawal feeds, at levels greater than 5% of the therapeutic dose, fell from 22.5 to 2.5%. This collaborative study has helped the feed compounder to produce more effective withdrawal feeds, thereby reducing the potential exposure of consumers to unwanted residues of monensin in poultry meat.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. glenn.kennedy@dani.gov.uk
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McEvoy
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008985:Monensin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003049:Coccidiostats; D008985:Monensin