I REFER to the report “Antibiotic-free meat more expensive, says Vet Dept” (The Star, May 16) where Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Md Isa was reported as saying that consumers will have to pay more if the use of antibiotics on livestock is banned or stopped. He said the mortality rate of farm animals would be high if the use of antibiotics is banned.
Using low levels of antibiotics in formulated livestock feed as a disease preventive and growth stimulant results in the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. When used in the proper therapeutic doses to treat sick animals, the antibiotics will kill the bacteria, thus preventing the growth of resistant strains.
