Characterizing Antimicrobial Use in the Livestock Sector in Three South East Asian Countries (Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam)

Abstract

A framework was developed to characterize the antimicrobial use/antimicrobial resistance complex in livestock systems in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Farm profitability, disease prevention, and mortality rate reduction were identified as drivers toward antimicrobial use in livestock systems. It revealed that antimicrobial use was high in all sectors studied, and that routine preventative use was of particular importance to broiler production systems. Misleading feed labeling was identified as a hurdle to the collection of accurate antimicrobial use data, with farmers being unaware of the antimicrobials contained in some commercial feed. Economic analysis found that the cost of antimicrobials was low relative to other farm inputs, and that farm profitability was precariously balanced. High disease and poor prices were identified as potential drivers toward economic loss. The research indicates that antimicrobial use in small-scale poultry production systems improves feed conversion ratios and overall productivity. However, data were limited to quantify adequately these potential gains and their impacts on the food supply. During the study, all countries embraced and implemented policies on better management of antimicrobial use in livestock and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Future policies need to consider farm-level economics and livestock food supply issues when developing further antimicrobial use interventions in the region.

Keywords: Indonesia; Thailand; Vietnam; antibiotic; antimicrobial; antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial use; economics; framework; policy.

Figure 1

Farmer attitudes to the roles of different actors in monitoring the prudent use of antimicrobials in pigs.

Figure 2

The behavioural influences behind antimicrobial use in a case study on antimicrobial use on pig farms in Thailand (n = 11).

Figure 3

Reported antimicrobial usages by active ingredient (%) in a case study into antimicrobial use in pig production in Thailand and Vietnam. *Antimicrobial class classified by the WHO as the highest priority as critically important antimicrobial (HP-CIA). **A ‘reported antimicrobial usage’ was considered the use of an antimicrobial active ingredient or the use of the same active ingredient in a different formulation, as reported by the farmer. In the case of a combination of antimicrobial product, each active ingredient was counted as differently reported antimicrobial usage.

Figure 4

The behavioral influences behind antimicrobial use in a case study on antimicrobial use on broiler farms in Indonesia (n = 419).