Iranian Firm Makes Herbal Antibiotics for Livestock, Poultry

“Given the increasing damage caused by chemical antibiotic resistance in Iran and the subsequent increase in treatment costs and human casualties, the approach to using antibiotics and chemical drugs in livestock and poultry farms should be modified. This product can significantly improve the trend of using antibiotics in poultry farms and its side effects,” said Amirali Amiri, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

“This herbal product not only has no withdrawal period, but can also be used in laying hens, dairy cows and other livestock until the end of the production period. This feature reduces the use of antibiotics, reduces drug residues in livestock products, and decreases the imports of protein inputs such as soy,” he added.

Stressing that not even a single gram of chemical or synthetic molecule has been used in the formulation of these drugs, Amiri said, “If only 10 percent of the country's poultry farms use this drug, it will have a significant impact on the country's food safety and reduce antibiotic resistance.”

He explained that the antibiotic is produced in two solid (powder) and liquid forms, adding, “The liquid form of the antibiotic can be a good alternative to drugs used to treat digestive problems and intestinal inflammation in livestock and poultry. In fact, by using this liquid drug, three to four antibacterial drugs can be eliminated from the cycle of livestock and poultry drugs. The powder form of this antibiotic has also been microencapsulated using nanotechnology to have greater stability, solubility, and effectiveness.”

In a relevant development in January, Iranian researchers at another knowledge-based company managed to reduce production costs and help the society’s health by making herbal supplements for livestock and poultry.

“These products, which are being marketed after ten years of testing in Yazd poultry farms, are produced based on 100% herbal extracts which are added to the poultry's drinking water and are an ideal replacement for chemical drugs,” said Ali Salamat, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the company.

Noting that the benefits of using these herbal supplements go beyond poultry health, he said, “The existence and production of raw materials within the country, saving foreign exchange costs, reducing feed conversion ratio and losses, improving meat taste, and eliminating harmful environmental waste are a number of these advantages.”

“Most importantly, the use of these supplements eliminates the harms of using chemical drugs and prevents drug resistance in humans and poultry, and ultimately, chicken is produced without antibiotics, which greatly contributes to the health of society,” Salamat said.

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