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The study aimed to collect data from staff at poultry farms in Nakawa Division. Out of the 50 questionnaires distributed across five selected poultry farms, 45 were returned fully completed, representing a 90% response rate. This is considered adequate for reliable data analysis and interpretation.
4.2 Bio-Data of the Respondents
Demographic data were collected to understand the composition of the respondents. The majority of participants were male (60%), aged between 30–39 years (51.1%), and predominantly married (57.8%). Most respondents held a diploma (37.8%) or certificate (28.9%), and more than half (51.1%) had worked at their respective poultry farms for over five years. These findings confirm the credibility and experience level of the respondents in poultry practices.
4.3 Types of Antibiotics Used by Poultry Farmers
The study found that tetracycline (82%) was the most commonly used antibiotic, followed by penicillin (68.9%), chloramphenicol (62.2%), enrofloxacin (57.8%), and oxytetracycline (35.6%). This suggests that poultry farmers in Nakawa Division heavily rely on antibiotics for disease management and productivity enhancement, potentially increasing the risk of residues in poultry products.
4.4 Administration of Antibiotics
Antibiotics were primarily administered by veterinary doctors (84.4%), followed by farm employees (46.7%) and farmers themselves (24.4%). The involvement of trained professionals indicates an effort to ensure proper antibiotic use, although the role of untrained personnel raises concerns about compliance with best practices.
4.5 Sources of Antibiotics
The majority of antibiotics were sourced from veterinary doctors (88.9%) and veterinary drug shops (60%), while only 4.4% reported sourcing from hawkers. This implies that most antibiotics are acquired through legitimate channels, although the presence of informal sources highlights the need for tighter regulation.
4.6 Reasons for Antibiotic Use
All respondents (100%) reported using antibiotics to treat sick birds. Additionally, 95.6% cited effectiveness, 42.2% used antibiotics to boost growth, and 46.7% said they were easily accessible. These reasons align with findings by Clarke (2004) and Gerber et al. (2007), who linked increased market demand to the intensive use of antibiotics for disease control and growth promotion.
4.7 Antibiotic Residues in Poultry Tissues
The study analyzed 150 samples (liver, muscle, and gizzard) from five local markets using LC-MS. Key findings include:
Ntinda Market: 13.33% contamination rate with mean concentration of 7.88 ppb. Residues mostly found in liver.
Bugolobi Market: 30% contamination, mainly tetracycline and oxytetracycline, with a mean concentration of 24.41 ppb.
Banda Market: Highest contamination (73.33%), mean concentration 49.37 ppb; residues found in all tissues, especially muscle and gizzard.
Nakawa Market: 40% contamination, with a high mean concentration of 53.77 ppb.
Luzira Market: Lowest contamination (6.67%) with only penicillin detected.
Liver tissues recorded the highest frequency of residues (43.49%) due to their metabolic role. Most concentrations were within Codex Alimentarius MRLs, except for Penicillin G in one Banda gizzard sample (212.64 ppb), which exceeded the 200 ppb limit.
These findings indicate the persistent use of antibiotics in poultry, with a significant portion of farmers not adhering to recommended withdrawal periods. This poses potential public health risks due to residue accumulation and antibiotic resistance.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion
Out of 150 poultry samples analyzed, 32.67% contained at least one antibiotic residue (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, penicillin G, or chloramphenicol). Residues were most prevalent in liver tissues, followed by muscle and gizzard. Banda and Nakawa markets had the highest contamination levels, likely due to high consumer demand from nearby institutions.
Although most residue levels were within acceptable Codex MRLs, their mere presence—especially when associated with improper withdrawal periods—raises concerns about food safety and public health. The findings reinforce that antibiotics are widely used in poultry for both therapeutic and growth-enhancing purposes, echoing global concerns over antimicrobial resistance.
5.2 Recommendations
Strengthen Regulatory Oversight: The National Drug Authority (NDA) should increase surveillance, manpower, and enforcement to regulate antibiotic use in poultry.
Education and Awareness: Poultry farmers, veterinarians, and pharmacy personnel should be trained on proper antibiotic administration, withdrawal periods, and residue risks.
Enforce Withdrawal Periods: Authorities must ensure compliance with recommended withdrawal times before slaughter to reduce residue accumulation.
Ban Unregulated Sales: Informal sourcing of antibiotics, particularly from hawkers, should be prohibited.
Further Research: Additional studies should explore a wider range of antibiotic residues in poultry tissues from various production companies across Uganda to inform policy and intervention strategies.
