Raising broilers without antibiotics: challenges and alternatives

Drago Nedić; Biljana Pećanac; Dragan Knežević; Bojan Golić

doi:10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.20

Drago Nedić University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; PI Veterinary Institute of Republic of Srpska Dr. Vaso Butozan, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1494-3435
Biljana Pećanac PI Veterinary Institute of Republic of Srpska Dr. Vaso Butozan, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dragan Knežević PI Veterinary Institute of Republic of Srpska Dr. Vaso Butozan, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bojan Golić PI Veterinary Institute of Republic of Srpska Dr. Vaso Butozan, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5726-4507

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.20

Keywords: broilers, antibiotics, alternatives, probiotics, phytobiotics, antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

Intensive poultry production has long relied on the use of antibiotics to improve animal health and yield. However, growing concerns about the emergence of antimicrobial resistance have led to restrictions and bans on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in many countries. “Raised without antibiotics” production can be described as the production of broilers that have not come into contact with antibiotics during the production cycle, whether for prophylactic, therapeutic or growth-stimulating purposes.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the opportunities and challenges in raised without antibiotics poultry production, focusing on the available alternative measures such as probiotics, phytobiotics, organic acids, improved biosecurity, hygiene and management. The data presented were obtained based on observational and survey-based methodologies. Test matrices were water, feed and litter. The technique used to determine the presence of antibiotics was ultra-high performance liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).

From January 2020 to June 2025, antibiotic use on the studied farms steadily declined from 20.62 to 4.70 mg/kg of live weight. In the total of 3320 broiler production cycles examined on 200 farms, it was found that 62.14% of production runs met the requirements for antibiotic-free rearing. From such facilities, 59.36% of slaughtered broilers met the requirements for the Raised Without Antibiotics certificate.

The results indicate that it is possible to achieve satisfactory production indicators and maintain good animal health, but with strict adherence to preventive measures and precise management.