Salmonella vaccination:Now the choice is yours
Salmonella vaccination:Now the choice is yours
Although some poultry
markets are close to being
over-supplied, this special,
edited by Hannah Velten,
shows how to make the
most of a poultry enterprise.
John Farrant kicks off with
an update on the debate
over salmonella vaccination
in laying flocks
POULTRY producers supplying eggs under the Lion Code now have the choice of using either a live or inactivated vaccine against Salmonella enteritidis (Se).
This is possible following a reversal from producers being required to use an inactivated vaccine, made by Intervet, which protects against Salmonella typhimurium (St) and Se.
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) Lion Code of Practice has recommended the use of vaccination to protect against St be deferred, but kept under review.
The reason for this about-turn is St is not regarded as a major problem, says BEIC chairman Andrew Parker. "The stringent testing programmes required of our producers have not shown St to be a current threat for Lion Quality eggs."
However, the BEIC has urged vaccine manufacturers to fast-track the development of a live St vaccine. This provides an option should St become a problem or if customers demand it.
It is understood that vaccine manufacturer Lohmann, already have a combined Se/St vaccine licensed in Germany and could seek registration in the UK.
Within the next six months the Lion Code of Practice sub-committee will review the situation, with the intention of ensuring protection against both Se and St, but enabling a choice of either live or inactivated vaccines for BEIC subscribers.
Experts are divided on whether the live or inactivated vaccines are more effective against salmonella. But there is no doubt that live vaccines administered in the water are cheaper to use than inactivated, and avoid the stress of injecting birds.
In the meantime, the requirement for testing of both hens and eggs continues to provide an early warning system should any type of salmonella pose a threat in the future.
"We remain determined to ensure that the Lion Code of Practice offers the highest possible food safety standards," says Mr Parker.
More than 80,000 Lion Quality eggs were independently tested in 2000 and no salmonella was found in any of them.
And the latest report from the governments Advisory Commit- tee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) shows that human cases of salmonella in England and Wales have more than halved in the three years following the introduction of the British Lion salmonella eradication programme.
The BEIC are now calling for the government to ensure all UK eggs are best before date stamped and laying hens receive salmonella vaccine. *
SALMONELLA VACCINE
• Can use either live or inactivated vaccine.
• No current threat from St.
• Vaccinate all UK layers?
Although some poultry
markets are close to being
over-supplied, this special,
edited by Hannah Velten,
shows how to make the
most of a poultry enterprise.
John Farrant kicks off with
an update on the debate
over salmonella vaccination
in laying flocks
POULTRY producers supplying eggs under the Lion Code now have the choice of using either a live or inactivated vaccine against Salmonella enteritidis (Se).
This is possible following a reversal from producers being required to use an inactivated vaccine, made by Intervet, which protects against Salmonella typhimurium (St) and Se.
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) Lion Code of Practice has recommended the use of vaccination to protect against St be deferred, but kept under review.
The reason for this about-turn is St is not regarded as a major problem, says BEIC chairman Andrew Parker. "The stringent testing programmes required of our producers have not shown St to be a current threat for Lion Quality eggs."
However, the BEIC has urged vaccine manufacturers to fast-track the development of a live St vaccine. This provides an option should St become a problem or if customers demand it.
It is understood that vaccine manufacturer Lohmann, already have a combined Se/St vaccine licensed in Germany and could seek registration in the UK.
Within the next six months the Lion Code of Practice sub-committee will review the situation, with the intention of ensuring protection against both Se and St, but enabling a choice of either live or inactivated vaccines for BEIC subscribers.
Experts are divided on whether the live or inactivated vaccines are more effective against salmonella. But there is no doubt that live vaccines administered in the water are cheaper to use than inactivated, and avoid the stress of injecting birds.
In the meantime, the requirement for testing of both hens and eggs continues to provide an early warning system should any type of salmonella pose a threat in the future.
"We remain determined to ensure that the Lion Code of Practice offers the highest possible food safety standards," says Mr Parker.
More than 80,000 Lion Quality eggs were independently tested in 2000 and no salmonella was found in any of them.
And the latest report from the governments Advisory Commit- tee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) shows that human cases of salmonella in England and Wales have more than halved in the three years following the introduction of the British Lion salmonella eradication programme.
The BEIC are now calling for the government to ensure all UK eggs are best before date stamped and laying hens receive salmonella vaccine. *
SALMONELLA VACCINE
• Can use either live or inactivated vaccine.
• No current threat from St.
• Vaccinate all UK layers?
The British Lion Salmonella Eradication Programme has increased consumer confidence so that egg sales are rising, says Andrew Parker.
SALMONELLAVACCINE
• Can use either live or inactivated vaccine.
• No current threat from St.
• Vaccinate all UK layers?