ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN POULTRY PRODUCTION: A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
Loading...
Files
Date
2024-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY, TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
The present research work “Antimicrobial resistance in poultry production: A
multi-stakeholder analysis” aimed to find out the role of stakeholders in contributing to
antimicrobial resistance in the poultry sector. The study is focused on analyzing the
factors influencing antimicrobial drug (AMD) prescribing behaviour of poultry
practitioners and the perception of poultry practitioners about antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) in poultry production, documenting the knowledge, adoption of biosecurity
measures and antimicrobial drug usage pattern among poultry farmers. Consumers’
awareness of antimicrobial drug usage (AMD) and antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR)
were also studied. An ex-post-facto and exploratory research designs were adopted for
the present study conducted in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A total of
40 commercial poultry farmers and 60 consumers were selected from both states
through simple random sampling. The data from 31 poultry practitioners was collected
through a questionnaire (google form) and the responses from poultry farmers and
consumers were through a structured interview schedule. The findings were processed,
analyzed and interpreted with appropriate statistical procedures.
Nearly three-fourth (74.20%) of the poultry practitioners were young and cent
per cent were male. More than half of the poultry practitioners were with M.V.Sc
(54.84%) and had low level of work experience (51.61%) in the poultry sector. More
than three-fourth (80.64%) of the poultry practitioners have undergone training in
poultry farming whereas, the same number of the (80.64%) poultry practitioners
haven’t undergone any trainings related to AMR.
Majority of the poultry practitioners make use of information sources concerning
the usage of antibiotics from colleagues or peers, a summary of product characteristics
(SPC)/Package information leaflets (PIL), textbooks/drug handbooks and national/state
guidelines/protocols. More than three-fourth of the poultry practitioners had medium
level of knowledge and perception of antimicrobial resistance. Among the various
factors influencing the prescribing decision of poultry practitioners, clinical or disease
symptoms, efficacy of the drug, withdrawal period, ease of administration of drug and
spectrum activity of drug were the most considered clinical factors.
Also, prior experience in managing similar problems, guidelines or protocols on
the rational use of drugs, economic status of the owner, not making a mistake, opinion
of a colleague, farmers demand for antimicrobials, with the assumption that he may be
called again if there is no improvement in the health status of the birds were the most
considered non-clinical factors by poultry practitioners for prescribing antimicrobials.
Majority of poultry practitioners expressed that hygienic management and
regular disinfection of farms, practice of proper biosecurity measures, screening of flock
for serological titers, Phyto biotics, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics,
immunostimulants, essential oils, special market outlets (premium price) for AMR free
poultry products, creating wider awareness about the effects of antimicrobial resistance
among poultry farmers, rotation of deworming drugs, certifying poultry farms using less
or no antibiotics, judicious use of antibiotics and homeopathy can reduce the reliance
on antimicrobials.
Nearly two-third (60%) of poultry farmers from layer farms were old aged, male
(100%), highly educated (75%), with poultry farming as the major livelihood, had
membership in poultry associations (75%) and with medium level (60%) of experience.
Whereas, majority of the farmers from broiler farms were middle aged (55%), male
(100%), highly educated (55%), poultry farming was the only occupation (65%), do not
possess membership in any poultry association (90%) and had medium level of
experience (75%). The majority of farmers with layer farms (85%) and none (100%) of
the farmers with broiler farms have undergone any training related to poultry farming.
More than three-fourth of farmers from both the layer and broiler farms actively seek
information from veterinarians.
More than half of the layer (55%) and broiler (55%) farms had neighbouring
farms and majority of layer farms possessed medium flock size (90%) with medium
level of egg production (90%). Whereas, majority (85%) of broiler farms possess low
flock size. Majority of the farmers from the layer (90%) farms and half (50%) of the
farmers from broiler farms owned feed processing units. Among the layer farms (40%),
most of the marketing was done through wholesale and retail, and for broiler farms
(60%), it was done on a wholesale basis.
Three-fourth of farmers from both the layer (75%) and broiler (60%) farms were
having medium level of knowledge followed by low and high levels of knowledge on
biosecurity measures. More than three-fourth of the farmers with layer farms (80%) and
nearly two-third of the farmers with broiler farms (65%) were with medium level of
adoption followed by low and high levels of adoption of biosecurity measures.
Nearly two-third (60%) of layer farm farmers didn’t monitor the flock for
serological levels after vaccination. All the layer farm farmers (100%) were consulting
veterinarians for treatment of sick birds. Majority (90%) of farmers conduct post
mortem examination for dead birds out of these, 83.33 per cent farmers were following
the suggestions of veterinarians. Majority (45%) farmers mentioned that the purpose of
using antibiotics or medicines in farms was for both treatment and prevention purpose.
In majority (90%) farms, antimicrobial drugs were administered by skilled workers. All
(100%) the farmers from layer farms have the ability to differentiate antibiotics from
other medicines and among those 90 per cent of farmers can differentiate through
generic names whereas, 85 per cent of farmers from layer farms check for the expiry
dates of antibiotics prior to administration to the flock. More than half (60%) of the
farmers didn’t adhere to the recommended duration for the usage of antibiotics. Half
(50%) of the layer farm farmers were aware of the drug withdrawal period, but none of
the farmers among them followed the drug withdrawal period. Majority (80%) of layer
farm farmers were using alternatives to antibiotics like pre and probiotics during various
disease outbreaks.
Almost all (95%) the broiler farm farmers weren’t in the habit of checking the
post-vaccination serological levels and nearly two-third (60%) of the broiler farm
farmers were purchasing antimicrobials over-the-counter to treat on their own. Majority
(85%) of the farmers were following the practice of conducting post-mortem
examination for dead birds and 76.47 per cent farmers of these stated that they were
following the suggestions of veterinarians for further control of the disease incidence.
Nearly one third (35%) farmers mentioned that the purpose of using antibiotics or
medicines in farms was for both treatment and prevention purpose. In majority (90%)
broiler farms, antimicrobial drugs were administered by skilled workers. All (100%) the
broiler farm farmers can differentiate antibiotics from other medicines and moreover,
more than half (55%) of these can differentiate through generic names. Majority (75%)
of the broiler farm farmers check for expiry dates on antibiotics before its administration
to birds. Majority (70%) of the farmers didn’t adhere to the recommended duration of
antibiotics. Majority (60%) of the broiler farm farmers didn’t heard about the
withdrawal period and only 23.50 per cent of the aware farmers follow the withdrawal
periods. Majority (75%) of the broiler farm farmers were using alternatives to
antibiotics.
Majority (75%) of the consumers were young, male (63.33%), graduates
(88.34%) and with small family (73.33%) and had medium level of income (66.67%).
Majority (65%) of consumers prefer chicken meat and prefer eggs (55%) and meat
(43.33%) from commercial production system. Half of the respondents consume eggs
(50%) daily and meat (55%) twice or thrice in a week. Half (50%) of the consumers
purchase meat and eggs by appearance. Majority (60%) of consumers opined that the
un-hygiene market was the major restricting factor in consumption of meat and meat
products. Majority (83.33%) of the consumers were willing to pay premium price for
quality meat products. Among them, 38 per cent of consumers were willing to pay the
premium price of 10 per cent above the normal price. Majority (73.34%) consumers had
medium level of awareness followed by low (18.33%) and high (8.33%) levels towards
antimicrobial drug usage (AMD) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Whereas,
majority (63.33%) of consumers had low level of perception followed by medium
(31.67%) and high (5%) levels of awareness towards antimicrobial drug usage (AMD)
and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).