Chemeq claims chicken growth success in antimicrobial tests

An independent study using a polymeric antimicrobial designed by Perth-based biotech Chemeq has demonstrated increased growth rates in chickens at 10 per cent of the dose originally tested in poultry, according to the company.

The chickens had the same level of health and grew faster on less feed, said Dr Alistair Murdoch, Chemeq's corporate marketing manager for animal healthcare.

Earlier trials of the antimicrobial, CHEMEQ, at a higher dosage had had similar results. Murdoch said that the original dosage was set based on the dosage used in pigs, but results had suggested that it could be dropped.

"In this recent trial, the small dose of CHEMEQ polymeric antimicrobial gave at least two outstanding benefits - exceptional weight gain of 17 per cent, and 11 per cent less feed consumption whilst achieving this increase of weight. These results are most economically significant for poultry farmers," he said.

Murdoch said that the economic advantages of the lower dosage meant that it would be less cost per chicken treated, making it more cost effective for the farmer. He also suggested that this would provide a higher profit market for Chemeq.

Prof David Hampson, from Murdoch University's Department of Microbiology, who has been director of almost all of Chemeq's field trials, performed the study. Hampson recently presented data from field trials of CHEMEQ in pigs to an international pig veterinary conference.

According to Murdoch, the presentation generated a significant level of interest in the antimicrobial from the veterinary community and other attendees.

Chemeq's antimicrobial is an alternative to the use of traditional human antibiotics as a growth promoter in poultry and pigs, which have been linked to the development of multiple drug resistance in bacteria.