Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Nong Lam University, HCMC, Vietnam.
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Prev Vet Med. 2021 Oct;195:105470. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105470. Epub 2021 Aug 19.
Small-scale farming of meat chicken flocks using local native breeds contributes to the economy of many rural livelihoods in Vietnam and many other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These systems are also the target of high levels of antimicrobial use (AMU); however, little is known about the profitability and sustainability of such systems. Since small-scale farms are commercial enterprises, this knowledge is essential to develop successful strategies to curb excessive AMU. Using longitudinal data from 203 small-scale (100-2,000 heads) native chicken flocks raised in 102 randomly selected farms in Dong Thap province (Mekong Delta, Vietnam), we investigated the financial and economic parameters of such systems and the main constraints to their sustainability. Feed accounted for the largest financial cost (flock median 49.5 % [Inter-quartile range (IQR) 41.5-61.8 %]) of total costs, followed by day-old-chicks (DOCs) (median 30.3 % [IQR 23.2-38.4 %]), non-antimicrobial health-supporting products (median 7.1 % [IQR 4.7-10.5 %]), vaccines (median 3.1 % [IQR 2.2-4.8 %]), equipment (median 1.9 % [IQR 0.0-4.9 %]) and antimicrobials (median 1.9 % [IQR 0.7-3.6 %]). Excluding labor costs, farmers achieved a positive return on investment (ROI) from 120 (59.1 %) flocks, the remainder generating a loss (median ROI 124 % [IQR 36-206 %]). Higher ROI was associated with higher flock size and low mortality. There was no statistical association between use of medicated feed and flock mortality or chicken bodyweight. The median daily income per person dedicated to raising chickens was 202,100 VND, lower than alternative rural labor activities in the Mekong Delta. In a large proportion of farms (33.4 %), farmers decided to stop raising chickens after completing one cycle. Farmers who dropped off chicken production purchased more expensive feed (in 1000 VND per kg): 11.1 [10.6-11.5] vs. 10.8 [10.4-11.3] for farms that continued production (p = 0.039), and experienced higher chicken mortality (28.5 % [12.0-79.0 %] vs. 16 [7.5-33.0 %]; p = 0.004). The rapid turnover of farmers raising chickens in such systems represents a challenge to the uptake of messages on appropriate AMU and chicken health. To ensure sustainability of small-scale commercial systems, advisory services need to be available to farmers as they initiate new flocks, and support them in the early stages to help overcome their limited experience and skills. This targeted approach would support profitability whilst reducing risk of emergence of AMR and infectious disease from these systems.
小规模肉用鸡养殖采用当地本土品种，为越南和许多其他中低收入国家（LMICs）的许多农村生计做出了贡献。这些系统也是高水平使用抗生素（AMU）的目标；然而，人们对这些系统的盈利能力和可持续性知之甚少。由于小规模农场是商业企业，因此了解这些知识对于制定成功的策略来遏制过度使用抗生素至关重要。本研究使用来自越南芹苴省（湄公河三角洲）102 个随机选择的农场中 203 个（100-2000 个头）本地鸡群的纵向数据，调查了这些系统的财务和经济参数以及可持续性的主要限制因素。饲料占总费用的最大财务成本（鸡群中位数为 49.5%[四分位距（IQR）为 41.5-61.8%]），其次是雏鸡（鸡群中位数为 30.3%[IQR 为 23.2-38.4%]）、非抗生素支持健康的产品（鸡群中位数为 7.1%[IQR 为 4.7-10.5%]）、疫苗（鸡群中位数为 3.1%[IQR 为 2.2-4.8%]）、设备（鸡群中位数为 1.9%[IQR 为 0.0-4.9%]）和抗生素（鸡群中位数为 1.9%[IQR 为 0.7-3.6%]）。不包括劳动力成本，120 个（59.1%）鸡群的农民实现了投资回报率（ROI）为正，其余的则亏损（鸡群 ROI 中位数为 124%[IQR 为 36-206%]）。较高的 ROI 与较大的鸡群规模和较低的死亡率有关。在鸡群死亡率或鸡体重方面，使用有治疗作用的饲料与鸡群死亡率之间没有统计学关联。用于饲养鸡的人均日收入中位数为 202100 越南盾，低于湄公河三角洲地区的其他农村劳动力活动。在很大比例的农场（33.4%）中，农民在完成一个周期后决定停止饲养鸡。停止生产鸡的农民购买了更贵的饲料（每公斤 11100 越南盾）：11.1[10.6-11.5]比继续生产的农场（10.8[10.4-11.3]）高（p=0.039），且鸡死亡率更高（28.5%[12.0-79.0%]比 16%[7.5-33.0%]；p=0.004）。在这种系统中饲养鸡的农民的快速更替给适当使用抗生素和鸡健康方面的信息的采用带来了挑战。为了确保小规模商业系统的可持续性，需要向新启动鸡群的农民提供咨询服务，并在早期阶段为他们提供支持，以帮助克服他们有限的经验和技能。这种有针对性的方法将支持盈利能力，同时降低这些系统出现抗生素耐药性和传染病的风险。
