Hennessey Mathew, Samanta Indranil, Fournié Guillaume, Quaife Matthew, Gautham Meenakshi, Paleja Haidaruliman, Papaiyan Kumaravel, Biswas Ripan, Alarcon Pablo
Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, WOAH Collaborating Centre in Risk Analysis and Modelling, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 9;20(1):e0314090. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314090. eCollection 2025.
Chicken meat (broiler) production is a rapidly growing livestock sector in India, and one dominated by contract farming. Studies have reported high levels of antibiotic use in Indian broiler farms which is concerning given this is one of the driving forces for the development of antibiotic resistance. This study used the economic lens of agency theory to examine strategic decisions which occur during contract broiler production and their potential impact on antibiotic use, using West Bengal as a case study. Agency theory focuses on the informational asymmetry and opportunism between service providers and seekers and the subsequent agency cost needed to avoid aberrant outcomes. Interviews were conducted with key informants (n = 6) and stakeholders (n = 20) associated with broiler production, and broiler farmers (17 contract and four non-contract), using online and face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed descriptively using manifest content analysis and interpretatively using reflexive thematic analysis. Contract farming in West Bengal exists within a series of inter-dependent relationships, many of which contain information asymmetry and can be subject to opportunism. Positioning contract companies as principals seeking labour from agents, we see how out-sourcing of production to distal farms led to antibiotics being used as a risk mitigation strategy. This was further compounded by concerns about the Mycoplasma status of breeding stock, and a perception that broiler day old chicks were infected, resulting in use of antibiotics belonging to classes deemed critically important for human health. While antibiotic use decisions were predominately made by contract companies, they were dependent on the decisions farmers and breeding companies made concerning biosecurity and production practices. In turn, farmers' decisions were shaped by factors such as access to financial and social capital. Thus, efforts to reduce antibiotic use in West Bengal's broilers must not just focus on changing the prescribing behavior of individuals but more broadly consider the environment within which contracting exists.
鸡肉（肉鸡）生产是印度一个快速发展的畜牧业部门，且以合同养殖为主导。研究报告称，印度肉鸡养殖场抗生素使用水平很高，鉴于这是抗生素耐药性发展的驱动因素之一，这令人担忧。本研究以代理理论的经济视角，以西孟加拉邦为案例研究，审视合同肉鸡生产过程中发生的战略决策及其对抗生素使用的潜在影响。代理理论关注服务提供者与寻求者之间的信息不对称和机会主义以及避免异常结果所需的后续代理成本。通过在线和面对面访谈，对与肉鸡生产相关的关键信息提供者（n = 6）、利益相关者（n = 20）以及肉鸡养殖户（17个合同养殖户和4个非合同养殖户）进行了访谈。使用显性内容分析法对数据进行描述性分析，并使用反思性主题分析法进行解释性分析。西孟加拉邦的合同养殖存在于一系列相互依存的关系之中，其中许多关系存在信息不对称，且可能受到机会主义影响。将合同公司定位为从代理商处寻求劳动力的委托人，我们可以看到将生产外包给偏远农场如何导致抗生素被用作风险缓解策略。对种鸡支原体状况的担忧以及认为一日龄肉鸡雏鸡受到感染的看法进一步加剧了这种情况，导致使用了对人类健康至关重要的抗生素类别。虽然抗生素使用决策主要由合同公司做出，但它们依赖于养殖户和育种公司在生物安全和生产实践方面做出的决策。反过来，养殖户的决策受到诸如获得金融和社会资本等因素的影响。因此，减少西孟加拉邦肉鸡抗生素使用的努力不仅要专注于改变个人的开药行为，更要广泛地考虑合同养殖所处的环境。
