The document examines antibiotic use in Kenyan smallholder dairy farms, identifying increasing usage as a significant contributor to antimicrobial resistance, with about 10% of milk exceeding beta-lactam residue limits. A survey of 165 farms revealed that disease incidence and poor herd management practices drive antibiotic use, highlighting the need for farmer education and improved management strategies. It emphasizes the importance of large-scale surveillance and stakeholder engagement to combat antibiotic misuse and promote responsible usage.

1. Practices and drivers of antibiotic use in Kenyan
smallholder dairy farms
Drivers of antibiotic use (AMU) in Dairy farms
• Antibiotic use is increasing in food-producing animals and is a major
driver of antimicrobial resistance.
• About 10% of the milk from small-holder dairy farmers has been
reported to contain beta-lactam residue levels that exceed the
maximum allowed limits (0.01 to 100 parts per billion (ppb) (Aduda,
2023)
• Here, we quantified levels of commonly used antibiotics and
assessed possible drivers of antibiotic use in Kenyan dairy farms.
Methods
Figure 1. Factors associated with antibiotic use in dairy production
systems
Figure 2. 165 dairy farms in Machakos, Makueni and Narok counties
• 165 farms were surveyed using the AMUSE, version 2 questionnaire
(https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107443)
• Metadata: socio-demographic characteristics, herd management
and antibiotic use practices, patterns
• Modelled the drivers of antibiotic use.
A: Socio-demographic characteristics of sampled dairy farms
Figure 3. Socio-demographic characteristics
C: Antibiotic use patterns
Figure 5. Antibiotic use patterns by single active pharmaceutical
ingredients(APIs) and antibiotic classes
D: Model of antibiotic use drivers
Figure 6. Multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression model results showing drivers of antibiotic use.
Conclusion and next steps
• Antibiotic usage is associated with disease incidence and inappropriate herd management practices
• There is a need to educate dairy farmers on appropriate antibiotic usage and promote safe herd management
practices
• Antimicrobial stewardship efforts should target all stakeholders, including animal health service providers
• Large-scale surveillance is necessary to provide data on veterinary antibiotic usage and inform evidence-based
policies for mitigating antibiotic misuse or overuse and spreading antimicrobial resistance.
Correspondence : L.Kisoo@cgiar.org
Lydiah Kisoo1*,2, Dishon M. Muloi1,2, Walter Oguta1, Daisy Ronoh1, Lynn Kirwa1, James Akoko1, Eric Fèvre1,2, Arshnee Moodley1,3, Lillian Wambua1,4*
1Animal and Human Health program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
2Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom
3Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
4World Organisation for Animal Health, Sub-regional Representation for East Africa, Kenya
*Current address
Cephalosporins
Sulfonamides
Penicillins
Tetracyclines
Aminoglycosides
Macrolides
Fluoroquinolones
Diaminopyrimidines
Proportion of antibiotic administration over a year
0.4%
48.9%
7.0%
44.0%
Growth promoterMetaphylaxis Therapeutic Prophylatic
Antibiotic use purpose
23
14
63
77
23 23.6
76.4
64.8
8.4
26.7
59.4
40.6
49.1
36.4
13.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Machakos
Makueni
Narok
Male
Female
Dairy
only
Mixed
(Dairy
&
beef)
cattle
Indigenous
Crossbreed
Exotic
Yes
No
Free
range
Mixed
(zero
$
free-range)
Zero-grazing
Location (County) Farmer gender Farm type Breed Cattle housing Husbandry type
Percentage
(%)
80.00
%
18.79
%
1.21%
Veterinary drug
stores(Agrovet)
Veterinarian
Middlemen
traders
Antibiotic sourcing
61.2
1%
38.7
9%
AHPs
No one
Antibiotic use
consultation
B: Antibiotic use practices
Figure 4. Antibiotic use purpose, consultation and sourcing