At YoKuku, we are committed to the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials to protect animal health, food safety and public health. Our approach focuses on minimising the risk of disease throughout our production chain while supporting our long-term goal of reducing antimicrobial use wherever possible.
This policy outlines the principles that guide antimicrobial stewardship across all YoKuku operations, including our farms, hatcheries and processing plant. It governs the use of veterinary prescription medicines and ensures antimicrobials are used only when necessary, under the guidance of qualified veterinary professionals.
Our practices are aligned with recognised national regulations and international best practices for responsible antimicrobial use. Through continuous monitoring, responsible management and scientific oversight, we are committed to safeguarding animal welfare, maintaining consumer confidence and contributing to the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Responsibilities
Everyone at YoKuku has a role to play in responsible antimicrobial stewardship. Our veterinarians oversee diagnosis and treatment, our farm and hatchery teams implement best practices in animal care and disease prevention, and our feed suppliers follow strict controls to ensure medicated feed is produced and supplied only when appropriately prescribed.
Enforcement
We monitor compliance with our antimicrobial policy through regular audits, record reviews and, where necessary, antimicrobial residue testing. Any failure to comply with these requirements is addressed in accordance with YoKuku’s internal policies to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of our food safety standards.
Policy Principles
At YoKuku, we are committed to the responsible use of antimicrobials to protect animal health, food safety and public health. Our approach is guided by veterinary expertise, scientific evidence and recognised best practices, ensuring medicines are used only when necessary and with the highest level of care.
We only use veterinary medicines that have been approved by the relevant regulatory authorities. All medicines are managed under strict oversight to ensure safety, quality and compliance.
Antimicrobials are prescribed only after a veterinary assessment and, where appropriate, supported by diagnostic testing. We prioritise targeted treatment and avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Our laboratory supports responsible treatment through diagnostic and sensitivity testing. This helps ensure the most appropriate medicine is selected while reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
Medicines are administered strictly according to veterinary instructions and all treatments are accurately recorded. Good animal husbandry remains our first line of defence, with treatment used only when necessary.
We strictly observe prescribed withdrawal periods before products enter the food chain. Where required, residue testing is carried out to verify that our products meet food safety standards.
Veterinary medicines are stored securely under controlled conditions, with comprehensive records maintained to ensure full traceability and accountability.
Effective cleaning, disinfection and biosecurity are essential to preventing disease. We follow established sanitation protocols and regularly verify their effectiveness through environmental monitoring.
Our feeds do not contain antibiotic growth promoters or other prohibited additives. Where permitted health-supporting products are used, they are carefully managed through responsible rotation programmes.
We continually review our antimicrobial stewardship practices to align with evolving scientific knowledge, regulatory requirements and international best practices. Our goal is to reduce reliance on antimicrobials while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and food safety.