The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos state chapter, has warned farmers against the use of antibiotics in poultry rearing to protect the lives of consumers.
The PAN Lagos Chairman, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Iyiola said that it was important to sensitise farmers as well as consumers on the negative effects of antibiotics in poultry and human beings.
“We are encouraging and sensitising our farmers against the usage of antibiotics in raising their birds.
“No matter what you do, there is an inherent negative effect of using antibiotics in poultry which affects birds and humans.
“Even on the package of the antibiotics, they indicate that there are elements of residual effect in any animal that uses the drugs.
“These residues have been linked to cause illnesses such as cancers, resistance of humans to drugs and even sudden death.
“That is why we ask poultry farmers to desist from the use of antibiotics entirely,” Iyola told NAN.
He, however, called on the farmers to adopt probiotics as a safer option.
According to him, probiotics have no residual effect because they are plant-based.
“There is no overdose or underdose of probiotics and it has no negative effects whatsoever on birds and humans. We keep sensitising farmers to adopt probiotics,” Iyiola said.
Also, Mr Adewale Balogun, the Chief Executive Officer, Samdor Associates, said that all over the world, antibiotics had been banned in rearing poultry due to the health implications.
Balogun, a patron of PAN Lagos, also urged farmers to desist from using antibiotics in poultry farming stressing that it was harmful to humans.
“When antibiotics become too much in the bird’s system, their performance and output will become low. Antibiotics also make the bird produce smaller sized eggs.
“Probiotics are safe for the birds and help to reduce the cost of production. The best thing is to use probiotics which are more beneficial to poultry growth and development.
“Probiotics can be easily accessible by local farmers, but farmers should consult with their resident veterinarians on how to apply them,’’ he said.
Balogun noted that birds should be given probiotics based on their age, adding that some needed to be administered once a day while others daily.
NAN
