Plan to stop antibiotics for pigs rapped

Academics have opposed a plan to stop using antibiotics on pigs, saying it helps reduce bacterial infections in the farm animals.

Dr Roongroje Thanawongnuwech, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University, said yesterday the use of antibiotics including Colistin in livestock production is essential as the drug helps improve farming conditions and reduce bacterial infections in farm animals.

Antibiotics are commonly mixed with feed for livestock to be eaten every two weeks to one month, he added.

He was speaking yesterday in response to a report on antibiotic-resistant genes in pigs that sparked public concerns over the dangers of eating pork.

The antibiotics helps increase the level of immunity in animals, enabling them to resist contagious and dangerous diseases, Mr Roongroje said.

However, the amount of Colistin used should be reduced over time, he added.

Assoc Prof Rungtip Chuanchuen, head of the Research Unit in Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, yesterday said the public should not panic, saying that in Thailand, there are no reports of antibiotic-resistant genes in pigs.

It is safe to eat pork that is cooked properly, she added.

There is no clear evidence that antibiotic-resistant genes in animals can be passed on to humans by eating meat, Assoc Prof Rungtip said.

She disagreed with stopping the use of antibiotics in livestock production, saying that Thailand is a tropical country where there is a risk of infections.

Meanwhile, Sorravis Thanneto, deputy chief of the Department of Livestock, explained that 80% of pig farms countrywide meet the standards of meat production with vets making regular visits to inspect pigs’ health.

The use of antibiotics, including Colistin, is closely supervised, he said.

He added the drug is also used for killing the E-coli bacteria in one-month-old piglets and it is not for adult pigs, and it is safe to eat pork as there is no contamination from bacterial drug resistance transferring from meat to consumers as feared.

He also said the department regularly inspects livestock medicine shops to see if there are any unregistered drugs available for sale. Last year the department took legal action in over 100 cases involving the sale of illegal drugs.