Chapters authored
Antimicrobial Resistance and Rational Use of Antimicrobials in Livestock: Developing Countries’ Perspective
India is one of the top consumers of antibiotics in agriculture worldwide, which accounts for 3% of global consumption, which is estimated to double in 2030. The use of antibiotics, particularly in chickens, is expected to triple in India by 2030. The overuse, injudicious use, and misuse of these antimicrobial drugs have spawned the evolution of life-threatening bacteria that is making the current antimicrobials’ reserve useless. Suitable extension outreach and continuing programmes should be devised to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials. Innovative approaches, such as One Health, Antimicrobial Stewardship, and antimicrobial conservation are the need of present alarming situation. There is need to reduce the antimicrobial use in animals, particularly domesticated animals; provision of infection surveillance in hospitals; improving hospital surveillance for monitoring antibiotic resistance; promoting rational and judicious use of drug through education, monitoring, and supervision; researching new drugs; and developing and implementing a more restrictive and participatory antibiotic policy by including various stakeholders. Thus, tracking the rate of veterinary antimicrobial use, resistance, and residues, through a nationwide surveillance and monitoring system, and educating farmers, veterinarians, and consumers could pave the way to fight against this catastrophic situation of antimicrobial resistance.
Part of the book: Livestock Health and Farming
Leveraging Livestock Production Systems for Human Nutrition in Developing Countries
Livestock farming is a key sector that promotes socio-economic development in developing countries with around 600 million smallholders relying on it for livelihood. The multi-functionality of livestock production in the livelihoods of smallholders, from an income and input generating asset to a source of food and nutrition, is well known but less acknowledged. Though the concept of leveraging agriculture for nutritional goals is gaining importance, the evidence on the impact of nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions is sparse particularly in one of the major subsectors in agriculture like livestock. The current chapter discusses the potential of livestock farming systems to tap nutritional outcomes in developing countries where multiple forms of malnutrition are highly prevalent due to over-reliance on starch-based diet and other socio-economic and cultural factors. Thus, the chapter highlights the importance of animal source foods (ASF) in human nutrition, the pathways linking livestock and nutrition, the sustainability issues related to livestock production systems, and the way forward to exploit these systems as a tool for tackling malnutrition in the developing world.
Part of the book: Animal Husbandry