Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance on Indonesian Broiler Farms

Antimicrobials have greatly improved human and animal health, but their widespread use has also contributed to antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health threat. In Indonesia, antimicrobials are commonly used in broiler farming, often to prevent disease rather than to treat it, partly because they are easily available without prescription. Until now, there has been little data on how antimicrobials are used and how resistance develops on the many small- and medium-scale broiler farms in the country. This research studied antimicrobial use and resistance on 19 broiler farms over multiple production cycles. The results showed frequent preventive use of antimicrobials, including drugs that are critically important for human medicine, and high levels of antimicrobial resistance. While the amount of antimicrobial use varied over time, it remained common across farms. Simple, low-cost interventions were well received by farmers and increased awareness of antimicrobial resistance. However, long-term change depended on broader factors, such as trust and financial incentives within the production chain. Overall, the study shows that reducing antimicrobial use is possible, but lasting improvements require collaboration and supportive economic and structural conditions.