Antibiotic Use Practices and Resistance Trends in Animal Husbandry Operations in Kaduna State: Implications for Public Health

The use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, particularly for prophylaxis and growth promotion, is a recognised driver of antimicrobial resistance with direct public health implications through the food chain and environmental dissemination. This study examines antibiotic use practices and resistance trends in animal husbandry operations in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, a major hub for poultry and cattle production. Structured questionnaires were administered to 40 farm operators in Zaria, Kaduna North, and Birnin Gwari districts, covering antibiotic selection, dosing, prescription behaviour, and record-keeping. Pooled faecal samples from poultry and cattle were collected for isolation and antibiotic susceptibility profiling of Escherichia coli as an indicator organism. Self-medication of livestock without veterinary consultation was reported by 75 percent of farm operators, and oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin were the most commonly used agents. Resistance to tetracycline in poultry E. coli isolates was 84 percent, and fluoroquinolone resistance was 47 percent. Ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli from cattle exceeded 38 percent. Only 12 percent of farmers maintained antibiotic use records. The study recommends veterinary prescription requirements for farm antibiotics, farmer education on resistance risks, and integration of veterinary AMR surveillance into the Kaduna State Agricultural Development Programme. Keywords: antibiotic use, animal husbandry, antimicrobial resistance, Kaduna State, zoonotic