Combating antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use in Zambian poultry

This poster, originally presented at the 2023 ReAct Africa and South Centre Conference, showcases the preliminary findings and challenges of the Combating Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use in Zambian Poultry project. The project aims to reduce antimicrobial use in broiler production and residue presence in broiler meat by optimising antimicrobial prescriptions and use among veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) and broiler farmers in select districts in Lusaka and the Copperbelt province.

Preliminary findings and challenges

• The number of VPPs was significantly lower than anticipated, limiting their participation in data collection, Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), and training courses.
• A lack of transportation (e.g., motorbikes) hindered VPPs’ ability to reach farmers, requiring reliance on public transport.
• To reduce the burden on VPPs while maintaining effectiveness, data collection efforts were adjusted to require fewer farm visits.
• Due to variations in farmers’ production stages, data on antimicrobial use (AMU), residues, and farm economics will be collected over a three-month period.