§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many different kinds of antibiotics are used in the preparation of animal feedstuffs.
§ Mr. StrangZinc bacitracin, bacitracin methylene disalicylate, flavomycin, virginiamycin and sodium monensin are the only antibiotics which are licensed under the Medicines Act 1968 for incorporation in animal feeding stuffs without a specific prescription from a veterinary surgeon. They have been approved only after rigorous testing for safety and other factors.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why antibiotics are used in the preparation of animal feedstuffs; and what would be the effects if this practice were stopped.
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§ Mr. StrangFour are used to promote growth and improve feed conversion rates and one is a coccidiostat; without them production costs on the farm would rise.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which animal feedstuffs have the highest concentration of antibiotics.
§ Mr. StrangThe highest level of incorporation permitted in finished feed is 125 ppm for sodium monensin in feeds for broiler chickens.