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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/jafst.2321.1628.6118.3

Abstract

The increasing human population and rising incomes across the globe proportionally increases the demand for food and other livelihood resources. The requirements for wholesome and nutritious food are ever­increasing and animal husbandry sector has contributed much to the needs of people. Several measures have been applied to increase the productivity of livestock which has resulted in ignificant increase in the milk, meat, eggs and fish production. However, animal products can potentially be contaminated with thousands of chemicals used for various purposes in routine animal husbandry practices. Among veterinary drugs, antibiotics are the most widely used ones for chemotherapeutic and prophylactic purposes as well as feed additives to promote growth and improve feed efficiency in livestock. Although, the safe and effective use of antibiotics in animals has received considerable attention in most of the countries around the globe including India. However, the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry practices especially sub­therapeutic usage in animal feed as a growth promoter may have plethora of adverse impacts on human and environmental health. Therefore, the present review is an effort to address the various issues pertaining to sub­therapeutic usage of antibiotics in animal feed, methods for their detection in foods of animal origin and their potential risks to human and environmental health.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Animal Feed; Animal Origin Foods; Detection Methods; Health Risks.

Corresponding Author : Atul Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176062