National AMR context
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health challenge in Pakistan, driven in part by high antimicrobial use and inappropriate prescribing practices across human and animal health sectors. The Government of Pakistan is committed to addressing this challenge through its National Action Plan on AMR (NAP-AMR), which prioritises the responsible use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals and the phasing out of antimicrobials as growth promoters, alongside the promotion of suitable alternatives.
However, the intensification and commercialisation of poultry production have increased concerns about inappropriate antimicrobial use, including the use of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine.
Problem
The poultry sector is one of the fastest-growing segments of Pakistan’s agriculture-based economy, with an annual growth rate of approximately 8.1%. It plays a vital role in national food security, affordable animal protein supply, employment, and rural livelihoods.
Pakistan’s poultry sector faces a significant challenge from high antimicrobial use (AMU) and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Pakistan is among the world’s largest consumers of antimicrobials in chicken production, with a substantial proportion belonging to critically important antimicrobial classes. Colistin and enrofloxacin are among the commonly used antimicrobials in broiler production. Furthermore, studies have reported multidrug resistance in up to 89–100% of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from broilers, highlighting the potential risks to animal and public health.
Antimicrobial use in poultry is driven by several factors, including economic pressures, sub-optimal biosecurity, inadequate veterinary guidance, regulatory challenges, and limited access to effective alternatives. Organic acids are a promising alternative by supporting gut health, improving feed and water hygiene, and controlling enteric pathogens. Although their beneficial effects on poultry performance and intestinal microbial balance have been widely investigated, robust farm-level evidence demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing antimicrobial treatments and AMR remains limited.
“Pakistan’s poultry sector needs farm-level evidence on the effectiveness of organic acids as alternatives to antimicrobials and their potential to reduce antimicrobial use while maintaining flock health and productivity” – Dr. Mashkoor Mohsin Gilani, Associate Professor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Project overview
The project aims to evaluate if organic acids are effective to reduce AMU and AMR, while also improving flock health and productivity in large-scale commercial broiler farms in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
A randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted on 30 double-shed commercial broiler farms, targeting a 20% reduction in antimicrobial treatment frequency through organic acid supplementation. During the baseline phase (Year 1), farms will be monitored for AMU, AMR, pathogen prevalence, and flock health and productivity under routine management practices. Randomisation will take place following completion of the baseline assessment. During the intervention phase (Year 2), one shed on each farm will receive organic acids through drinking water, while the other will serve as an untreated control. In the post-intervention phase (Year 3), the long-term uptake of the intervention will be assessed by monitoring farms after the intervention period.
Additionally, socio-economic, behavioral, and institutional factors influencing the adoption and sustained use of organic acids will be investigated to identify opportunities and barriers to their wider implementation in Pakistan’s poultry sector.
“We are very excited to partner with Pakistan and support its efforts to mitigate antimicrobial use in a growing poultry sector” – Dr Rodolphe Mader, Senior Science Advisor, ICARS
Intended outcomes
- Short term: Reduced antimicrobial treatment frequency by at least 20% by reducing pathogen pressure and improving flock health, while demonstrating economic benefits and farmer acceptability.
- Medium-term: Evidence-based organic acid protocols are widely implemented in commercial farms of Pakistan.
- Long-term: Sustainable AMU reduction and AMR mitigation across Pakistan’s poultry sector, strengthening food safety, preserving antimicrobial effectiveness, and improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the broiler industry.
