January 27, 2022 10.14 am This story is over 26 months old

Over £500k awarded to Lincoln firm to improve poultry welfare

£500,000 to improve poultry welfare and reduce waste
Arden Sammy Kay | Photo: Lincoln Science and Innovation Park

A Lincoln biotechnology firm has been awarded a research grant of more than £500,000 to improve poultry welfare and reduce waste.

The £514,000 Innovate UK grant, awarded to Arden Biotechnology, will fund a two year project to develop a natural solution to a disease that results in paralysis and painful bone deformities in poultry – without relying on antibiotics.

The wider aim of the project is to improve welfare, and reduce feed usage and food waste, resulting in less carbon emissions.

Arden Biotechnology, based at the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, and Avara Foods, one of the UK’s largest poultry producers, are working together to develop the solution.

Dr Joseph Brown, Research Director at Arden Biotechnology, said: ““The bacteria we are looking to control is naturally present in healthy chickens, but in some cases, the bacteria get to where they normally aren’t and form cyst- like growths within the spine resulting in paralysis.

“This paralysis means the birds can’t feed or drink and unfortunately die from dehydration or starvation unless there is an interventioned. Previously antibiotics, now largely banned from the food chain, kept this avian pathogen – Enterococcus cecorum- under control.”

According to the World Health Organisation, feed accounts for 78% of greenhouse gases in poultry production. In reducing the amount of pathogenic bacteria that are associated with poor feed conversion ratio, birds are able to gain weight in a more efficient manner. This means that less feed is consumed to achieve target weights.

Dr Brown added: “So the natural solution we are researching would support the agricultural transition to a net zero carbon emission industry through reduced feed usage, reduced food waste and improved welfare.”