Project

Biosecurity and antimicrobial use in animal production in Pakistan

Code
DOCT/005603
Duration
03 March 2022 → 20 September 2026 (Ongoing)
Doctoral researcher
Research disciplines
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Veterinary epidemiology
Keywords
biosecurity Poultry antimicrobial use
 
Project description

This PhD research developed an integrated framework to quantify and manage antimicrobial use (AMU) and assess farm biosecurity (using the Biocheck.ugent tool) in Pakistan’s conventional broiler production system. The study combined standardized field data collection with the adaptation of international methodologies to establish Pakistan-specific defined daily and course dose metrics (DDDvetPK and DCDvetPK). This methodological advancement enabled the first comprehensive estimation of AMU in broilers using four different AMU indicators. Furthermore, assessments of farm biosecurity provided a management-oriented perspective on disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. The integration of AMU quantification with biosecurity evaluation bridged data generation, policy design, and field-level implementation. The findings offer a practical foundation for national AMU monitoring and disease risk reduction strategies in Pakistan's poultry sector.