Abuse of antibiotics in animal farming
Worldwide, antibiotics are being abused in animal farming in the name of boosting production of meat, eggs, farmed fish, etc. Overuse of antibiotics non-therapeutically is increasing antibiotic resistance among bacteria that cause human infections.
Consumers are pressing the companies involved in the production of animal agricultural produces to completely eliminate the use of antibiotics in animal feeds for quick growth. However, it is encouraging to learn that Perdue Foods, America’s third largest poultry producer has removed all antibiotics from its chicken hatcheries to address growing concerns about bacterial resistance to the widely used drugs.
In Bangladesh, antibiotics are widely used to fatten cattle. As the Eid-ul-Adha is nearing, cattle farmers are busy making their cattle healthy and fat by injecting antibiotics. But consumption of antibiotic-treated beef and poultry birds and their products can cause serious harm to human health. One of the major reasons behind growing resistance of bacteria against antibiotics is consumption of these animal agriculture products by humans.
Strict measures should be taken by authorities concerned to stop the abuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture. Different agricultural extension organisations should intensify extension activities to dissuade farmers from overusing or abusing antibiotics.
Professor M Zahidul Haque
SAU, Dhaka
