Antibiotic Concentration in Eggs from Hens on Chlortetracycline Supplemented Diets

THE use of antibiotics as an aid to accelerated growth and control of disease in poultry and other farm animals is well established. Since the use of antibiotics is so widespread, it is important to determine the amount of residual antibiotic in the meat and other food products derived from animals fed antibiotics. Broquist and Kohler (1953) reported no residual chlortetracycline in eggs from hens receiving 20 or 200 g. of chlortetracycline per ton, and 0.15–3.1 mcg. of chlortetracycline per egg for eggs from hens fed 2,000 g. of chlortetracycline per ton. Durbin, DiLorenzo, Randall and Wilner (1953) reported no residual chlortetracycline in eggs from hens fed 3, 10, 50, or 100 g. of chlortetracycline per ton. At the 200 and 2,000 g./ton level the highest concentration of antibiotic was found during the first week on chlortetracycline with successively decreasing concentration during the following two weeks. The decrease, percentage-wise, …