Free-range Chicken Meat Research Articles

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance patterns in enterococci from intensive and free range chickens in Australia

Resistance to antimicrobials in enterococci from poultry has been found throughout the world and is generally recognized as associated with antimicrobial use. This study was conducted to evaluate the phenotypic and genotypic profile of enterococcal isolates of intensive (indoor) and free range chickens from 2008/09 and 2000 in order to determine the patterns of antimicrobial resistance associated with different management systems. The minimum inhibitory concentrations in faecal enterococci isolates were determined by agar dilution. Resistance to bacitracin, ceftiofur, erythromycin, lincomycin, tylosin and tetracycline was more common among meat chickens (free range and intensive) than free range egg layers (P<0.05). Isolates were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction for bacitracin (bcrR), tylosin (ermB), tetracycline (tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(S), and tet(K)), gentamicin (aac6-aph2), vancomycin (vanC and vanC2), ampicillin (pbp5) and integrase (int) genes. Resistance to bacitracin, erythromycin and tetracycline were found to be correlated with the presence of bcrR, ermB, and tet genes in most of the isolates collected from meat chickens. Most bacteria encoding ermB gene were found to express cross-resistance to erythromycin, tylosin and lincomycin. No significant difference was found in these resistance genes between isolates sampled in 2000 and 2008/09 (P<0.5). Unlike the enterococcal strains sampled in 2000, the 2008/09 isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin and virginiamycin. This study provides evidence that, despite strict regulation imposed on antibiotic usage in poultry farming in Australia, antimicrobial resistance is present in intensively raised and free range meat chickens.

A Structural Equation Model of the Factors Influencing British Consumers' Behaviour toward Animal Welfare

Results of national and pan-European consumer surveys and the growth in the demand for so-called “animal-friendly” food products suggest that consumers within the European Union (EU) show a high level of concern for the welfare of farm animals. This article analyses the determinants of British consumers' behaviour toward animal welfare using structural equation models (SEM) with observed and latent variables. SEM is a statistical technique for testing and estimating relationships amongst variables, using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. A data set collected in 2005 through face-to-face interviews of 654 consumers in England is employed. Based on a review of the existing literature on consumers' behaviour toward animal welfare, the article tests and estimates a number of a priori determinants of behaviour, i.e., factors influencing stated purchases of free-range and organic chicken meat. The models have an adequate overall fit to the data. The statistical tests for the model on free-range chicken meat purchasing behaviour show socioeconomic group, education, attitudes toward animal welfare, reasons for buying chicken meat, access to information on animal welfare issues, number of children, and price as significant determinants. With one exception (i.e., reasons for buying chicken meat) all the aforementioned determinants were also found significant in the model on organic chicken meat purchasing behaviour.