Novel Biocontrol to Combat Clostridium Perfringens in Poultry Flocks (Phagiotic)

This project is to develop a novel biocontrol ready for commercial sales to combat Clostridium perfringens (CP)

in commercial poultry flocks. CP is the bacterium that causes Necrotic Enteritis (NE) in chickens. NE &

subclinical NE are estimated to cost global poultry industry over $6bn pa due to poor feed energy conversion

levels, mortalities, vet & medicine costs and higher risk of human food poisoning. It is currently controlled by

antibiotics which are under pressure to be withdrawn globally in the face of the global antibiotic crisis. This

project’s novel biocontrol will be a combinative narrow spectrum product specifically targeted against toxigenic

strains of CP. It will act as a natural growth promoter (NGP) to be used in place of AGPs to support the global

battle against AMR. Withdrawal of AGPs in animal husbandry must be combined with effective alternative

NGPs to control NE if a catastrophic fall in feed energy conversion performance is to avoided. This project will

build on 5Yrs of research by the UK project lead including a 3 year KTP and now brings together a UK / Chinese

consortium with diverse technical and commercial capabilities to successfully bring the product to market.