Investigation of the causes for the occurrence of residues of the anticoccidial feed additive nicarbazin in commercial poultry

Abstract

Investigations were undertaken to identify causes for the occurrence of high levels of the zootechnical feed additive nicarbazin in broiler liver at slaughter. The first investigation on 32 commercial broiler flocks involved sampling and analysis for nicarbazin (as dinitrocarbanilide, DNC) in liver from birds during a 3–10-day period after withdrawal of nicarbazin from their feed and before commercial slaughter. DNC residues in liver samples of broilers scheduled as being withdrawn from nicarbazin for ≥6 days ranged from 20 to >1600 µg kg⁻¹ (the specified withdrawal period for nicarbazin is 5 days and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) maximum residue limit (MRL) is 200 µg kg⁻¹ liver). Further on-farm investigations on 12 of these flocks, selected on the basis of the feeding system in use and the levels of DNC residues determined in liver, identified issues in feed management contributing to elevated residues in broiler liver. A significant correlation (0.81, p < 0.01, n = 10) between DNC residues in liver samples and in feed samples from the feeding pans was observed. The second investigation on 12 commercial broiler flocks involved sampling and analysis for DNC in liver samples and feed samples from feeding pans and from the feed mill at the three thinnings of birds for commercial slaughter. In the case of one flock, a clear relationship between nicarbazin in feed from the feed mill (10.5 mg kg⁻¹ DNC), in feed from the feeding pans (6.6 mg kg⁻¹ DNC) and in liver (583 µg kg⁻¹ DNC) at first thinning (9 days scheduled withdrawal from nicarbazin) was observed. Such a clear relationship was not observed in other cases, particularly at second and third thinnings, pointing to re-exposure of birds to nicarbazin late in the flock production cycle, probably from the litter. Guidelines outlining best farm practice to eliminate nicarbazin residues in poultry have been published in booklet and poster format for broiler producers and deal with feed system cleaning, feed bin management, feed deliveries, feed usage and records.

Keywords:

• Nicarbazin
• poultry
• commercial production
• residues
• feed
• liver

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board, for funding this project. The cooperation of the two poultry companies, and their associated poultry producers, with the investigations is gratefully acknowledged. Dr Lynsey Dunne is thanked for assistance with the project.