Abstract

Antibiotics have played a major role in impr oving the growth performance of poultry farms. However, the massive use, sometimes abusive, of antibiotics in pou ltry production induces the emergence of multi-resistant bacterial strains and causes the presence of antibiotic residues in poultry products. In 2014, Moroccan poultry produced more than 534.000 tons of meat of which 7% was achieved by poultry units in the region of the east. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate th e importance and characteristics of antibiotics in broiler and identify dangerous antibiotics practices in eastern Morocco. A comprehensive survey was conducted among 35 private veterinarians settle d in this region. It includes 39 questions divided into three sections. Statistical an alysis of the data was made by the EPI-INFO TM 7.1.4 software. The Enrofloxacin is the most prescrib ed antibiotic in avian medicine by 51.43% of inquired vets, followed by Colistin and Tetracyc lins prescribed, respectively, by 22.86% and 14.29% of them. July and August re corded the maximum of antibio tic prescriptions in 82% of respondents. All these vets have noted avia n antibiotics abuses, 94.29% of them have denounced smuggling antibiotics use. The Moroccan law governing antibiotics in poultry was considered insufficient by 68.57% and the cont rol system was deemed inefficient by 42.86% of inquired vets. The persistence of certain dangerous antibiotic practices in poultry production should call for the competent au thorities to protect public health.