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The emergence, spread, and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remain a pressing global health issue. Animal husbandry, in particular poultry, makes up a substantial portion of the global antimicrobial use. Despite the growing body of research evaluating the AMR within industrial farming systems, there is a gap in understanding the emergence of bacterial resistance originating from poultry within resource-limited environments. As countries continue to transition from low- to middle income countries (LMICs), there will be an increased demand for quality sources of animal protein. Further promotion of intensive poultry farming could address issues of food security, but it may also increase risks of AMR exposure to poultry, other domestic animals, wildlife, and human populations. Given that intensively raised poultry can function as animal reservoirs for AMR, surveillance is needed to evaluate the impacts on humans, other animals, and the environment. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of poultry production within low-resource settings in order to inform future small-scale poultry farming development. Future research is needed in order to understand the full extent of the epidemiology and ecology of AMR in poultry within low-resource settings.

Women and children in Bangladesh face high levels of micronutrient deficiencies from inadequate diets. We evaluated the impact of a Homestead Food Production (HFP) intervention on poultry production, as a pathway outcome, and women's and children's egg consumption, as secondary outcomes, as part of the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition cluster‐randomized trial in Sylhet division, Bangladesh. The 3‐year intervention (2015−2018) promoted home gardening, poultry rearing, and nutrition counseling. We randomly allocated 96 clusters to intervention (48 clusters; 1337 women) or control (48 clusters; 1368 women). Children < 3 years old born to participants were enrolled during the trial. We analyzed poultry production indicators, measured annually, and any egg consumption (24‐h recall), measured every 2−6 months for women and their children. We conducted intention‐to‐treat analyses using mixed‐effects logistic regression models with repeat measures, with minimal adjustment to increase precision. Poultry ownership increased by 16% points (pp) and egg production by 13 pp in the final intervention year. The intervention doubled women's odds of egg consumption in the final year (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.68−3.18), with positive effects sustained 1‐year post‐intervention (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.16−2.15). Children's odds of egg consumption were increased in the final year (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.87−4.95). Poultry ownership was associated with women's egg consumption, accounting for 12% of the total intervention effect, but not with children's egg consumption. Our findings demonstrate that an HFP program can have longer‐term positive effects on poultry production and women's and children's diets. The Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition trial evaluated a 3‐year Homestead Food Production (HFP) intervention that promoted small‐scale poultry rearing, home gardening, and nutrition counseling among women's groups in rural Sylhet division, Bangladesh. The intervention increased poultry ownership and egg production, and women's and children's egg consumption. The impact of the HFP program on women′s egg consumption was partly mediated by increased poultry ownership. Key messages The Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition trial evaluated a 3‐year Homestead Food Production intervention that promoted small‐scale poultry rearing, home gardening, and nutrition counseling among women's groups in rural Sylhet division, Bangladesh. The intervention increased poultry ownership, egg production, and improved poultry management practices. The intervention increased women's and children's egg consumption, with the strongest effects in year 3 of the intervention and evidence of sustained impacts post‐intervention. The impact of the Homestead Food Production program on women's egg consumption was partly mediated by increased poultry ownership.

Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. are associated with hospital-acquired infections and are commonly isolated across the poultry food production chain. Comprehensive data regarding the prevalence, spatiotemporal variations, and characterization of β-lactam-resistant bacteria in poultry farms and slaughterhouses is scarce. This study examines the prevalence and characteristics of β-lactam-resistant E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter spp. isolated from poultry farms, slaughterhouses, and associated personnel in Greece. Strains were selectively isolated and identified via MALDI-TOF MS, which was also employed to identify possible relatedness. E. coli isolates were further classified into phylogenetic groups. The prevalence of β-lactam-resistant strains in farm and slaughterhouse environments was 15.0% (n = 15 strains)/57.3% (n = 71 strains) for E. coli, 11.0% (n = 11 strains)/1.6% (n = 2 strains) for K. pneumoniae, and 1.0% (n = 1 strain)/25.8% (n = 38 strains) for Acinetobacter spp., respectively. The prevalence of Acinetobacter spp. and E. coli on farmers’ skin was 16.7% (n = 2 strains) and 8.3% (n = 1 strain), correspondingly. Significantly higher E. coli isolation rates were observed in warmer seasons. All strains were multidrug-resistant and most carried ESBL/AmpC genes. Most E. coli isolates belonged to phylogroups A (41.4%, n = 36) and B1 (24.1%, n = 21). Proteomic analysis indicated relatedness among strains from different regions and seasons. Thus, poultry farms and slaughterhouses may serve as significant reservoirs of β-lactam-resistant strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter spp.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic performance of broiler chicken farmers in Ana District, Anbar Governorate, for the agricultural season of 2023-2024. The study aims to assess their efficiency in optimizing the use of economic resources by applying a set of economic criteria, which would enable the farmers to expand their production capacities. The evaluation was conducted using specific economic performance indicators. A random sample of 50 broiler chicken farmers was selected for the analysis. The results of the study showed that the net income was approximately 90,429,625 IQD. Regarding the revenue breakeven point, it was about 7,886,199 IQD, confirming the economic viability and profitability of the project. The commercial profitability ratio was calculated to be 64.53%, which is considered a good ratio, reflecting the profitability of broiler chicken farming. The study recommends that the office of Livestock, veterinary, and agricultural extension departments should provide necessary services and inputs in accordance with development plans to ensure the sustainability of broiler chicken production projects. By offering continued support and necessary guidance, these projects can maintain and improve their productivity, contributing to the sustainable growth of the poultry sector.

In agricultural production, peanut shells, as a by‐product of peanut processing, are often discarded. However, they are rich in fiber, crude protein, carbohydrates, minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus), as well as bioactive substances like polyphenols and flavonoids, thus having potential feeding value. Currently, the application potential of peanut shells in the field of animal nutrition has not been fully explored. The lack of comprehensive and systematic studies on their nutritional composition, digestive and metabolic characteristics, and optimal addition levels in different animal production systems limits the accurate evaluation and scientific application of their feeding value. In addition, different processing methods have significantly different effects on improving the nutritional components of peanut shells, and they contain anti‐nutritional factors such as phytic acid and oxalic acid, whose contents vary greatly with peanut varieties and producing areas, further increasing the complexity of evaluating their feeding value. Although relevant studies have achieved certain results, there are still many issues in the development and utilization of peanut shells that need further in‐depth exploration and optimization. This review will comprehensively evaluate the nutritional value of peanut shells, analyze in detail their conventional nutritional components, bioactive substances, and anti‐nutritional factors, so as to clarify their true value in animal nutrition. Meanwhile, it will conduct in‐depth research on the application effects of peanut shells in different livestock feeding systems. Through these studies, it aims to provide a scientific basis for the reasonable and efficient application of peanut shells in livestock feeding and offer new ideas and methods for solving the current problems of feed resource shortage and environmental issues. The article reviews the potential of peanut hulls as livestock feed, highlighting their nutritional components, processing methods, and challenges. Despite being rich in fiber, minerals, and bioactive substances, peanut hulls contain anti‐nutritional factors. Processing techniques like grinding, alkali treatment, and fermentation can enhance their value. They are used in various animal productions to improve growth and the environment but face issues like high costs and regulatory limitations. Future research should focus on optimizing their use and addressing these challenges.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles and presence of resistance determinants and integrons were evaluated in Salmonella enterica strains from Brazilian poultry. The analysis of 203 isolates showed that those from the poultry environment (88 isolates) were significantly more resistant to antimicrobials than isolates from other sources, particularly those isolated from poultry by-product meal (106 isolates). Thirty-seven isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes. Class 1 integrons were detected in 26 isolates, and the analysis of the variable region between the 5′ conserved segment (CS) and 3′ CS of each class 1 integron-positive isolate showed that 13 contained a typical 3′ CS and 14 contained an atypical 3′ CS. One Salmonella Senftenberg isolate harbored two class 1 integrons, showing both typical and atypical 3′ CSs. The highest percentage of resistance was found to sulfonamides, and sul genes were detected in the majority of the resistant isolates. Aminoglycoside resistance was detected in 50 isolates, and aad A and aad B were present in 28 and 32 isolates, respectively. In addition, str A and str B were detected in 78.1 and 65.6 % isolates resistant to streptomycin, respectively. Twenty-one isolates presented reduced susceptibility to β-lactams and harbored bla TEM , bla CMY , and/or bla CTX-M . Forty isolates showed reduced susceptibility to tetracycline, and most presented tet genes. These results highlight the importance of the environment as a reservoir of resistant Salmonella , which may enable the persistence of resistance determinants in the poultry production chain, contributing, therefore, to the debate regarding the impacts that antimicrobial use in animal production may exert in human health.

The emergence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant Escherichia coli is a global concern. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and transmission of ESC-resistant E. coli in the Danish broiler production system. Samples from two vertically integrated Production Systems (1 and 2) and two slaughterhouses (A and B) were analyzed (n = 943) for the occurrence of ESC-resistant E. coli from 2015 to 2018. ESC-resistant E. coli isolates were whole-genome sequenced (WGS) for characterization of the multi-locus sequence type (MLST), antibiotic resistance genes, virulence genes, and plasmid replicon types. An ad hoc core genome (cg) MLST based on 2513 alleles was used to examine the genetic relatedness among isolates. The prevalence of ESC-resistant E. coli in the conventional Production System 1 was 2.7%, while in Production System 2 the prevalence was 26.7% and 56.5% for samples from the conventional and organic production, respectively. The overall prevalence of ESC-resistant E. coli in broiler thigh and fecal samples ranged from 19.3% in Slaughterhouse A to 22.4% in Slaughterhouse B. In total, 162 ESC-resistant E. coli were isolated and shown to belong to 16 different sequence types (STs). The most prevalent STs were ST2040 (n = 85) and ST429 (n = 22). Seven ESC resistance genes were detected: blaCMY-2 (n = 119), blaTEM-52B (n = 16), blaCTX-M-1 (n = 5), blaTEM-52C (n = 3), blaCTX-M-14 (n = 1), blaSHV-12 (n = 1), and up-regulation of ampC (n = 16), with an unknown resistance gene in one isolate (n = 1). The carriage of blaCMY-2 in 119 isolates was primarily associated with IncI1 (n = 87), and IncK plasmids (n = 31). Highly similar blaCMY-2 carrying E. coli isolates from ST429 were found in production systems as well as in slaughterhouses. In conclusion, findings from this study indicate that ESC-resistant E. coli are transferred vertically from farms in the production systems to slaughterhouses with the potential to enter the food supply.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a major constraint to Kenya’s poultry production, which is comprised of approximately 80% indigenous chickens (ICs; caged and free-range system) and 20% exotic chickens (intensive system). This study analyzed cases reported as suspected ND in Kenya between 2005 and 2015. Of the suspected 332 ND reported cases from the three production systems in 27 locations within six Kenyan Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs), 140 diagnosed as infected with avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOaV-1; formerly Newcastle disease virus) were present in every year in all AEZs. The numbers of AOaV-1-positive cases differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the production systems across the years depending on the season, climate, and location. In the free-range system, both ambient temperatures and season associated significantly (p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively) with the number of cases, while in the intensive and caged systems, the positive cases correlated significantly with season and relative humidity, respectively (p = 0.05). Regardless of the production systems, the numbers of clinically sick birds positively correlated with the ambient temperatures (r = 0.6; p < 0.05). Failure to detect AOaV-1 in 58% of the ND cases reported, and mortalities exceeding the observed numbers of clinically sick birds suggest deficiencies in the current ND reporting and diagnostic system. Intensive farmers were the slowest in reporting the cases and diagnostic deficiencies were most evident by failure to test the exposure of ICs to natural infection with AOaV-1 and for the AOaV-1-negative cases lack of testing for other pathogens and/or AOaV-1 variants. This study indicates a need for improved surveillance and diagnostics in Kenyan domestic poultry.