Financial Extension to Project: 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 and subclinical NE are estimated to cost the global poultry industry over $6bn pa due to poor feed energy conversion levels, mortalities, vet and medicine costs and higher risk of human food poisoning. It is currently controlled by antibiotics which are under pressure to be withdrawn in all parts of the world in the face of the global antibiotic crisis.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 in support of 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 5 years 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.