Poultry Antibiotics: Understanding the Role and Impacts in Farming Using Antibiotics
Poultry Antibiotics There are several types of antibiotics that are commonly used in commercial poultry operations. Beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins are frequently administered to chickens and turkeys to treat respiratory infections. Tetracyclines are another frequently used class of antibiotics used for their antibacterial properties. Macrolides like erythromycin are also commonly employed to combat diseases affecting the respiratory and digestive systems in poultry. In addition, sulfonamides are utilized as an antimicrobial growth promoter in poultry feed. The overuse of these antibiotics has contributed to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Role of Antibiotics in Food Animal Production Antibiotics play an important therapeutic role in poultry farming by treating diseases and ensuring flock health. However, they are also widely used for non-therapeutic purposes like growth promotion and disease prevention. It is a common practice to provide low doses...