Research Article | 23 Sep 2025

Antibiotic residues in meat and feed in Kazakhstan: A nationwide surveillance study on food safety and antimicrobial resistance risks

Akanova Zhannara1 , Assauova Zhenisgul2 , Uskenov Rashit3 , Suranshiyev Zhanbolat4 , Sharipova Galina1 , Shaikenova Kymbat3 , and Akibekov Orken4 Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | pg no. 2839-2849 | Vol. 18, Issue 9 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.2839-2849
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: The widespread use of antibiotics in livestock production enhances growth and prevents disease but contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and food contamination through residual accumulation in animal-derived products. Limited national-level data exist for Kazakhstan, where livestock farming is a major agricultural sector. This study aimed to evaluate antibiotic residues in meat and feed samples collected from across Kazakhstan and assess their implications for public health and food safety.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2023 and March 2025 across 14 regions of Kazakhstan. A total of 1,026 meat samples (beef, horse, chicken, lamb, and pork) and 150 feed samples (succulent, coarse, concentrated) were collected from licensed facilities. Samples were processed under standard protocols and analyzed using the Evidence Investigator biochip system (Randox, UK), employing Antimicrobial Array I Ultra and Antimicrobial Array II Plus panels. Statistical analyses, including analysis of variance, were performed using International Business Machine Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v25, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Residual antibiotics were detected in all categories of meat and feed, with several concentrations exceeding permissible limits. Succulent feeds showed the highest contamination (streptomycin 86.43 ppb; quinolones 35.56 ppb). Among meats, chicken contained the highest residue levels (quinolones up to 91.97 ppb; streptomycin up to 492.00 ppb), followed by beef (sulfadimethoxine 18.26 ppb; dapsone up to 285.14 ppb). Statistically significant differences were observed among meat types for quinolones (p = 0.000), ceftiofur (p = 0.000), thiamphenicol (p = 0.003), tylosin (p = 0.000), and tetra­cyclines (p = 0.005). Streptomycin levels varied widely but were not statistically significant (p = 0.072).
Conclusion: The findings highlight uncontrolled antibiotic use in Kazakhstan’s livestock sector, particularly in poultry farming. The presence of elevated antibiotic residues in meat and feed underscores urgent food safety concerns and the potential acceleration of AMR. Strengthened regulatory oversight, strict adherence to drug withdrawal periods, and adoption of sustainable alternatives such as probiotics and phytogenic feed additives are crucial. Establishing a national monitoring program and expanding laboratory surveillance capacity are essential steps to safeguard public health and promote safe, sustainable livestock production.
          
Keywords: antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, feed, food safety, Kazakhstan, meat, residues.