Use pattern of antibiotics in the ration of broilers and layers in some selected farms of Khulna region

The study was conducted in some selected poultry farms of Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district during the period from February to June, 2013. Continuous use of antibiotics in poultry feed as growth promoter develops antibiotic residue in poultry eggs and meat which is a great threat to human health. Therefore, the present study was designed to observe the use pattern of antibiotics in poultry ration. A questionnaire was prepared keeping the objectives of the study in mind. Data were collected from thirty poultry farmers selected at random from Batiaghata upazila. Selected farmers kept layer or broiler or both the layers and broilers. Socio-economic status of the farmers like the age, education level, land size, family size, annual income, farming experiences etc. is studied. Feeding and management system of poultry and use pattern of antibiotics for poultry production was also studied. The results revealed that 43.3% farmers kept layers, 23.3% broilers and 33.3% kept both layers and broilers in their farms. Cent percent farmers provide vitamin mineral premix to poultry. Maximum farmers (96.7%) used coccidiostat in poultry ration to prevent coccidiosis. Twenty nine farmers, out of thirty, provide vaccination to poultry. Cent percent farmers had the experiences of more than one disease in their farms. There were 4576.92 layers and 3071.43 broilers in each farm. Average age of layers and broilers were 65.08 and 12.14 weeks, respectively. Average feed consumptions per bird per day were 113.62 and 116.20g for layer and broiler, respectively. Sixty percent farmers marketed eggs and poultry meat during antibiotics feeding. Some antibiotics are always used as feed additives for promotion of growth in both layer and broilers. Most of the farmers did not follow a certain withdrawal period for antibiotics feeding before marketing eggs and meat. It can be concluded from the study that the poultry farmers of the studied area are using antibiotics indiscriminately for poultry production which may create serious health problems to human. Therefore, an attempt should be taken to replace antibiotics by suitable feed additives for successful poultry production.

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