Africa-Press – Botswana. Good animal husbandry can ward off the use of antibiotics in animals and subsequently overcome the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, says Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA) regulatory officer.
Dr Ndindoga Mosimane advised farmers during the I 11 farming cluster field day at Kwakwadi Ranch on Saturday, that treatment was better than cure and that repeated use of the same vaccine overtime could render it ineffective.
He said farmers should use only clinically approved antibiotics bought from approved suppliers.
Dr Mosimane called on farmers to safeguard people’s health by observing the withdrawal period, to ensure that there was no residue before animals could be consumed.
He said poor handling of antibiotics such as penicillin could have unbearable effects on animals and people.
BoMRA he said was tasked with ensuring proper disposal of antibiotics.
“We should ensure that the water used to clean machines at antibiotics manufacturing is treated and disposed in a safe manner,” Dr Mosimane stated.
Earlier, I 11 farming cluster chairperson, Mr Ditiro Mogotlhwane called for prompt action on antibiotics resistance adding that excessive use of antibiotics could threaten animals and human lives if unregulated.
For his part, Letlhakeng District agriculture coordinator, Mr Thomas Tadubana said farmers should deworm livestock especially during drought period, to ensure that gastrointestinal parasites did not compete with an animal for nutrients.
Mr Tadubana also issued a stern warning to those who fed livestock with chicken droppings, saying such practice had long been prohibited and that livestock fed with chicken droppings would not be accepted in the market.
He warned that those doing so, would be blacklisted and no permit would be issued for any of such animals by veterinary officials.
Such practice could jeopardise the future of the beef industry and risk the lives of consumers, Mr Tadubana said.
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