A veterinarian, Dr Joseph Onwualu, has urged poultry farmers to observe the withdrawal period in administration of antibiotics on poultry before marketing the products for consumption.

Onwualu,, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja, explained withdrawal period in poultry farming as stopping the administration of antibiotics two to three weeks before sales for consumption.

The veterinarian, who is the Technical Committee Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), FCT Chapter, said observing the withdrawal period would safeguard human health and also reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) burden in the country.

He said: “Animal antibiotic use can affect humans through the consumption of antibiotic residues in meat, which then provides a selection pressure in favour of antibiotic-resistant bugs in humans.

“AMR in livestock farms is defined as the resistance to microbial agents or pathogens considered to be sensitive to a known drug, but have developed resistance to the drug due to gross abuse in a particular farm and consumption of meat, milk ,eggs from such farm.

“These drugs are found in the tissue residues where the withdrawal period was not observed, and it will equally affect the human beings that consume these animal products.”

Onwualu who noted that most poultry farmers did not observe the withdrawal period for antibiotics, blamed such practice on ignorance of the effects on humans.

He, however, urged poultry farmers to engage the services of veterinary doctors before starting poultry farming, in order to be properly guided through all stages.

According to him, veterinarians will help the maximise profits and safeguard the health of the birds and humans.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria