Poultry official says dangerous substance not given to all animals
ARKANSAS - An affidavit from a poultry company official was filed Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court concerning a lawsuit over the use of chicken litter as fertilizer in the Prairie Grove area.The affidavit, from Gary Murphy, president of poultry operations for Simmons Foods Inc., one of the poultry companies being sued, states that not all poultry flocks are given feed that contains the medicine, 3-Nitro20, which is an ingredient in Roxarsone.
Roxarsone is the substance that plaintiffs claim causes cancer and other health problems when spread as fertilizer.
Murphy’s affidavit was filed in the suit naming Mary E. Green as lead plaintiff in support of a motion for summary judgment filed by Simmons Foods Inc. and Simmons Poultry Farms.
Murphy states that young hens and breeder flocks are "typically not fed feed" that contains 3-Nitro20. Murphy also states that feed formulas change periodically, including medicine contained in the formula, and whether 3-Nitro20 is included in the feed formula depends on the other medications contained in the formula.
Summary judgment is given on the basis of pleadings, affidavits and exhibits presented without any need for a trial. It is used when there is no dispute of the facts.
Source: NWANews
6 February 2006
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