BAU Correspondent :
Bangladesh’s poultry industry heavily relies on antibiotics, as farmers routinely use them for disease prevention and treatment in chickens.
Typically, if chickens are sold two weeks after antibiotic administration, harmful residues remain below unsafe levels. However, many farmers do not follow this guideline and market chickens immediately after antibiotic use. As a result, these antibiotic residues enter the human body, leading to antibiotic resistance and posing a serious threat to food safety.
To address this antibiotic dependency, a research team led by Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam from the Department of Pharmacology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has developed a plant-based solution called BauSafe-Vet. The research, spanning seven years, was funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES).
The research team included postgraduate students Md. Abu Rayhan Parvez, Shakil Islam, Saiful Islam, Tanvir Hasan, Najibul Haque, and Ashraful Alam. Speaking about the innovation, Dr. Shafiqul Islam said, “BauSafe-Vet is a herbal extract-based solution that can open a new horizon in antibiotic-free broiler production. We have identified five essential compounds in neem leaves that have growth-promoting effects, immune-stimulant properties, and antibacterial benefits. These compounds have been used to formulate this solution.” The professor further stated, “We are currently in the process of patenting this product.
Laboratory trials have already been completed, and field trials in Dinajpur and Gazipur have also been successfully conducted.
The field trial in Dinajpur showed that broilers using this solution gained an additional 350-500 grams in weight, which is around 30% more than regular broilers. The taste of the meat was found to be superior, and its quality significantly improved.”
Regarding the cost, the researchers explained, “For 100 chickens, around 2 liters of the solution are required, costing approximately Tk 4,000. However, since it increases chicken weight, farmers can recover this cost several times over through higher profits.”
He further added, “This solution is 100% safe for broilers. No diseases were observed after its use, meaning it has no side effects. With proper vaccination, additional medication is unnecessary, as the poultry remain disease-free.”
Highlighting the recognition of the research, Dr. Shafiqul Islam said, “In 2025, this research was awarded the ‘Best Poster Presentation’ at the 31st Annual Scientific Conference of the Bangladesh Society for Veterinary Education and Research (BSVER) for our study titled ‘High Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis of Azadirachta in a Pathway to Drug Discovery for Safe Poultry Production in Bangladesh.’ This achievement has brought international recognition to our research.”
He expressed optimism that BauSafe-Vet will play a crucial role in making Bangladesh’s poultry industry more competitive in the global market.
