The use of antibiotics in livestock production is steadily increasing due to the lower cost of antibiotics and the rising demand for animal protein in developing countries. Antibiotics are used in livestock production to promote the growth of animals and disease prevention. Lower doses of antibiotics are administered in livestock as a growth promoter for a longer period ranging from weeks to months. The amount of antibiotics used as growth promoters in animal livestock has been estimated up to 80% of the total quantity of antibiotics given annually to many food animals. As a consequence, these practices contribute to the emergence, spread, and persistence of antibiotic resistance toward bacteria in humans and livestock. Among common resistant bacteria that infect both humans and animals; including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus pneumonia, and staphylococcus aureus, according to data from the World Health Organization. Many countries have already taken action to reduce the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter. For example, European Union has banned the use of antibiotics in animal feed since 2006. In Malaysia, the ban on antibiotics has not yet been implemented in livestock production as many farmers still practiced an open system of livestock production. Open system management increased the risk of infection in livestock production. The cost to implement a close management system is expensive and not affordable, especially for medium and small-scale farmers. There are several strategies that may be used to decrease the usage of antibiotics in agriculture including improving good hygiene, appropriate housing design for animals, disinfection procedures, use of vaccination, and isolation of sick animals.

Date of Input: 29/07/2022 | Updated: 29/07/2022 | s_kumari