Raised without antibiotics: The Jamaica Broilers journey
Jamaica Broilers is one of the first major Caribbean producers to fully validate antibiotic-free broiler production - learn how they did it.
28 April 2026
3 minute read
By: Jamaica Broilers, producers of The Best Dressed Chicken, is one of the Caribbean’s largest and most established poultry companies. Its vertically integrated operations include breeder farms, hatcheries, broiler production, feed milling and processing facilities serving both local and regional markets.
In March 2019, the company began a strategic transition toward Raised Without Antibiotics (RWOA) production. Led by Dr. Janielle Wallace-Henry, Live Production Manager, the transformation required a complete re-evaluation of bird health, biosecurity practices and nutritional strategies. By 2021, Jamaica Broilers achieved NSF International RWOA certification, becoming one of the first major Caribbean producers to fully validate antibiotic-free broiler production.
Antibiotic-free ambitions meet operational opportunity
Rising consumer interest in cleaner poultry aligned with Jamaica Broilers’ long-term need to address antimicrobial resistance pressures. Transitioning an integrated Caribbean poultry system to antibiotic-free production created opportunities to excel in:
Maintaining bird health and performance without prophylactic antibiotics
Managing disease pressure in a tropical climate
Ensuring consistency in management standards across multiple farms
Preparing for certification audits with stringent global criteria
The company recognised that success required more than removing antibiotics; it depended on strengthening gut health, refining processes and redesigning overall bird management:
Initial action plan implementation
The first phase focused on building a foundation of improved welfare, hygiene and health management. Key actions included:
Strengthening farm hygiene and internal biosecurity
Farms and hatcheries adopted enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures, along with stricter ventilation, environmental control and flock-cycle preparation standards.
Introducing probiotics and natural alternatives
To maintain resilience without antibiotics, chicks were started on multi-strain probiotics such as PoultryStar®, supported by prebiotics, essential oils and enzymes to strengthen early gut development and immunity.
Progressive facility improvements
Infrastructure audits and equipment upgrades ensured that houses, water systems, feeders and litter management aligned with antibiotic-free requirements.
These steps produced early improvements in flock consistency and provided insight into the adjustments needed for long-term success.
Refined second-stage action plan
Enhanced chick-start management
Brooding conditions were evaluated flock by flock, with careful attention to temperature, humidity and air quality - critical for establishing gut integrity during the first seven days. Sanitation between flocks intensified, with extended cleaning and drying periods to reduce bacterial loads.
Focused management training and uniformity in standards
Supervisors and growers received targeted training to ensure uniform execution of water hygiene, litter management and chick behaviour monitoring across all sites.
Gut-health strategy as the central pillar
Gut health became the foundation of the antibiotic-free system. Probiotics, prebiotics and essential oils were used continuously rather than intermittently, significantly reducing variability and strengthening flock robustness. These refinements supported consistent performance and aligned the operation with NSF certification criteria.
Business impact and outcomes
The move to antibiotic-free production brought measurable operational and commercial benefits. Although initial costs rose due to new practices, nutritional adjustments and facility upgrades, these investments quickly resulted in long-term efficiencies. Strengthened gut integrity, refined flock management and ongoing facility improvements produced greater consistency and resilience in antibiotic-free birds.
Commercially, Jamaica Broilers’ verified antibiotic-free commitment enhanced its regional brand identity and strengthened customer trust. NSF RWOA certification elevated antibiotic-free production from a marketing advantage to a core sustainability and competitiveness strategy for the company.
Conclusion
Jamaica Broilers’ transition shows that sustainable, antibiotic-free poultry systems are achievable when supported by strong management, upgraded facilities and robust early-life gut-health programmes.
Key lessons include:
Gut-health is foundational - probiotics such as PoultryStar® played a central role in building a resilient microbiome from day one.
Consistent management drives success- enhanced training and standardisation delivered high performance across farms
Long-term commitment is essential- efficiencies and flock stability strengthened progressively over time.
Certification accelerates market differentiation - RWOA status reassured consumers and reinforced regional market leadership.
Overall, the Jamaica Broilers experience demonstrates that reducing bacterial and environmental pressure is the most critical factor in limiting antibiotic use. Nutritional tools, strong biosecurity and improved facilities support this objective, but sustainable outcomes ultimately depend on a holistic health-management strategy adopted consistently across the entire supply chain.
