Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Industrial chicken farming supplies affordable animal protein on a scale that dwarfs all other terrestrial livestock sectors, but the industry’s historic reliance on antibiotics—especially the fluoroquinolone class—has accelerated the global antimicrobial‑resistance (AMR) crisis. Drawing on an extensive literature review methodology, this paper first examines contemporary broiler and layer production systems, then investigates why fluoroquinolones became integral to flock management, how resistance emerged at molecular and epidemiological levels, and which regulatory and technological interventions have proved most effective. Two contrasting case studies—the Netherlands’ national antibiotic‑reduction programme and Oxfordshire’s long‑running Campylobacter surveillance project—illustrate both successful stewardship and the stubborn persistence of resistant clones. A dedicated “Future Research” section then outlines promising avenues: genomic early‑warning systems, phage therapy, CRISPR‑based antimicrobials, behavioural economics, and equitable financing for low‑income producers. The analysis concludes that aggressive antibiotic curbs need not undermine productivity when paired with vaccination, robust biosecurity, precision‑livestock sensors, and demand‑side market incentives. Closing surveillance gaps, accelerating vaccine innovation, and embedding One‑Health thinking across agriculture, public health, and trade remain paramount for preserving antibiotic efficacy.
Source: Theoretical and Natural Science
Author: Leyan Wang
Institution: Syracuse University
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4414145804