SUBRAHMANYESWARI .B (MAJOR)SIREESHA .PNAGARAJA KUMARI .KRAJYA LAKSHMI BETHAPUDI2024-07-082024-07-082024-02https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810211576The 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).EnglishThesis