RESIDUE IN COMMERCIAL BROILERS IN NSUKKA, SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the use of gentamicin by poultry farmers and the presence and prevalence of gentamicin residue in tissues of commercial broilers in Ikpa slaughter house Nsukka. The study adopted cross-sectional survey using questionnaire and immunological screening. A total of 108 broilers were sampled, testing 108 each of Muscle, liver and kidney tissues for gentamicin residue using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The questionnaire survey revealed that in the management practice, 55.2% of the farms use intensive deep litter, 21% intensive battery cage, and 23.6% extensive farming system. 27 (71%) farms rear only broilers, 10.5% layers, and 18.4% both. The feeding management showed that 21.1% of farmers produce their own feed (medicated) while 78.8% use commercial feed, of which 11.5%
incorporate antibiotics. hundred (100%) of the respondents use gentamicin and only 47.3% are aware of the consequences of antimicrobial residue in food with knowledge of the legislation on the prudent use of antimicrobials in food animals. The prevalence of gentamicin residue in surveyed birds was 65% with tissue distribution as follows: muscle (44.4), liver (51.9) and kidney (59.3%). 18.5% of muscle, 33.3% of liver. Poultry Farms in the study area make constant use of gentamicin without observing its withdrawal period before sale and a high percentage of the commercial birds meant for human consumption contain gentamicin residue.