Drug Residue in Chicken: Expert cautions poultry farmers on antibiotics

Drug residue in chicken: Expert cautions poultry farmers on antibiotics

By Mustapha Yauri

Antibiotics

Zaria (Kaduna State), March 18, 2020 (NAN) Dr Emmanuel Gaba, Gender Policy Unit, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has cautioned poultry farmers against indiscriminate use of antibiotics, saying it makes chicken or eggs unhealthy for consumption.

Gaba told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Zaria that the current practice by some poultry farmers of administering the drug without prescription would leave drug residue in the chicken or eggs.

He warned that consuming such chicken or its bye-product may cause antibiotic resistance and other health challenges in human beings.

He said under an ideal situation a farmer needed to stop antibiotics on the bird two weeks before consumption of the chicken or its bye-product.

“Due to economic implications, many poultry farmers don’t observe the two weeks withdrawal period before such chicken or eggs were sold to the unsuspecting members of public,’’ Gaba said.

He, therefore, advised farmers to revert to the ideal practice in
poultry farming to protect the health of the people.

In a separate interview with NAN, Dr Fadipe Oladotun, the Principal Assistant Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria,  said veterinary doctors have a high role to play in the control of drug residues in  chicken and eggs.

Oladotun noted that antibiotics were meant to cure diseases but
several times because some farmers don’t follow prescriptions on how to administer the drugs led to drugs residue and resistance.

He said if a poultry farmer should use antibiotics, it must be used
with correct prescription and observed withdrawal period before the
chicken or its egg was consumed.

He added that once the farmer observed the withdrawal period it would reduce the effect of resistance and residue on the chicken and eggs.

“Whatever happens to the animals or birds have direct effect on human beings.

“My advice to poultry farmers is that we should use antibiotic with
prescription and many a times what is needed is bio-security and
cleanliness.

“If the environment is clean and all the routines are followed we
will not need to administer these antibiotics,’’ he said. (NAN)

AM/AMM/MST

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Muhammad Suleiman Tola