Many broiler farmers routinely give antibiotics to healthy chickens to prevent disease, often following advice from dealers who supply chicks, feed and medicines, according to field-level observations and interviews with farmers.
Such excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing a growing threat to human health.
When antibiotics are overused, bacteria can develop resistance to the drugs used to treat them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial antimicrobial resistance was associated with about 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021, making infections increasingly difficult to treat.
Independent farmers interviewed for this report said they often use antibiotics as a preventive measure, while contract farmers working with poultry companies generally receive veterinary advice and are encouraged to focus on biosecurity.
Mokhlesur Rahman, 49, an independent farmer in Koligram Narayanpur of Bagha upazila, Rajshahi, has been raising broiler chickens for five years and is currently indebted to dealers.
He spends Tk5,000-6,000 on medicines for each batch of broilers, with nearly half of the amount going toward antibiotics.
“I use antibiotics four times during the 35-day cycle. What is the benefit of giving medicines after the disease breaks out? If we do not use antibiotics, the risk is higher,” he said on August 18.
Murad Sarkar, 42, another farmer from Dakra in Charghat, said he spent more than Tk7,000 on medicines, mostly antibiotics, to raise 1,200 chickens.
“We use antibiotics based on our experience. We believe antibiotics prevent diseases,” he said.
Bahadur Sarkar, 28, a dealer at Baneshwar Muchipotti in Puthia who supplies around 100 farmers, acknowledged that about one-third of the money farmers spend on medicines goes toward antibiotics.
“Some farmers maintain biosecurity, while some do not,” he said.
Antibiotic resistance risk
Bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can develop resistance when antibiotics are used excessively. If antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect humans, the resulting infections can become more difficult to treat.
A field-level study found that amoxicillin, neomycin, colistin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline are among the antibiotics commonly used on poultry farms.
Colistin and ciprofloxacin are considered critically important antibiotics for human medicine. Their use in food-producing animals therefore requires particular caution and adherence to veterinary and regulatory guidance.
Withdrawal periods also vary depending on the antibiotic and formulation. Farmers must follow the prescribed withdrawal period after the final treatment before selling chickens to minimize the risk of antibiotic residues in meat.
For some antibiotics, the withdrawal period can be 10 days or longer. Ciprofloxacin, for example, may require a longer withdrawal period depending on the product and applicable guidelines.
Industry stakeholders said some dealers have a financial incentive to sell antibiotics and may encourage small farmers to spend more on medicines.
Many farmers buy chicks and feed on credit from dealers, making it difficult for them to reject medicines recommended by the same dealers.
Contract farmers take different approach
Contract growers working with poultry companies generally receive technical advice from veterinary practitioners employed by the companies. They are encouraged to prevent diseases through biosecurity measures, including fencing around chicken houses and washing their hands and feet before entering.
Kazi Zahin Hasan, director of Kazi Farms, said the company does not advise farmers to give antibiotics to healthy chickens.
“Diseases should be prevented through biosecurity measures such as fencing around the chicken house and washing hands and feet with soap before entering,” he said.
“Contract farmers of Kazi Farms receive advice from our technical team. We never advise them to give antibiotics to healthy chickens. If there is a disease outbreak and antibiotics are required to treat sick chickens, we advise farmers to follow the prescribed withdrawal period before selling the chickens to minimize the risk of antibiotic residues in the meat,” he added.
Mohammad Zahid Hasan, 45, a contract farmer in Charghat, said they use antibiotics only when necessary and on the advice of veterinary doctors.
“We do not give antibiotics to chickens unless it is necessary and prescribed by a veterinary doctor. We have to follow biosecurity protocols, including maintaining cleanliness, in contract farming,” he said.
He added that they follow the required withdrawal period after antibiotic treatment before selling the chickens.
Hasan Ali, 29, another contract farmer from Meramotpur in Charghat, said he rarely uses antibiotics.
“When we use them, we maintain the required withdrawal period before selling the chickens,” he said.
Professor Mahmudul Hasan Sikder of the Department of Pharmacology at Bangladesh Agricultural University said marginal farmers often use antibiotics based on advice from the dealers they do business with.
He stressed the importance of following prescribed withdrawal periods to reduce the risk of antibiotic residues in meat.
“It is possible to prevent disease at a lower cost by maintaining biosecurity rather than spending money on antibiotics,” he said.
