Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms
Abstract Background Antimicrobial usage in food producing animals is of major concern. A clear link between the extent of use and the development of antimicrobial resistance has already been demonstrated. To evaluate strategies that may reduce the antimicrobial usage while assuring pig health and we...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Porcine Health Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40813-018-0106-5 |
| _version_ | 1819128206739898368 |
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| author | S. Raasch M. Postma J. Dewulf K. D. C. Stärk E. grosse Beilage |
| author_facet | S. Raasch M. Postma J. Dewulf K. D. C. Stärk E. grosse Beilage |
| author_sort | S. Raasch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Antimicrobial usage in food producing animals is of major concern. A clear link between the extent of use and the development of antimicrobial resistance has already been demonstrated. To evaluate strategies that may reduce the antimicrobial usage while assuring pig health and welfare, it requires profound knowledge of factors that are associated with antimicrobial usage. Data on biosecurity and herd management practices are important parameters to identify risk factors which are related to a higher antimicrobial usage. To investigate between-farm variations of high and low usage the treatment incidence (TI) per age group in 60 German farrow-to-finish herds was qualitatively and quantitatively analysed and linked to biosecurity measures, and herd management characteristics. Results Weaned pigs received most of the treatments (median TI = 487.6), followed by suckling pigs (median TI = 138.9). Suckling pigs were treated with critically important antimicrobials (3rd and 4th generation cephalosporines) to a remarkable extent. The number of sows present at site (p < 0.01) and a low score for external biosecurity (p = 0.06) were associated with a higher antimicrobial usage in pigs from birth till slaughter. Herds with a higher treatment incidence in growing pigs (TI 200 days): i) were located in a region with a high pig density (p < 0.01), ii) had a less strict access check for visitors and personnel (p < 0.01) and iii) scored lower in the subcategory ‘cleaning and disinfection’ (internal biosecurity) (p < 0.01). Herds with a higher treatment incidence in breeding pigs weaned more piglets per sow and year and scored better in the internal biosecurity level (p = 0.02). Conclusions With the main focus on the treatment incidence in pigs from birth till slaughter and in breeding pigs risk factors for a high usage in these age groups were identified. The level of biosecurity of a herd was associated with the amount of antimicrobials used. Therefore, the findings in this study indicate possible points of action in the reduction and prudent use of antimicrobials in Germany. The active improvement of biosecurity measures could be a promising alternative to reduce antimicrobial usage on herd level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:24:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-817a292e03f941fea0ef8ad7855a9407 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5660 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:24:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Porcine Health Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-817a292e03f941fea0ef8ad7855a94072022-12-21T18:32:40ZengBMCPorcine Health Management2055-56602018-12-014111410.1186/s40813-018-0106-5Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farmsS. Raasch0M. Postma1J. Dewulf2K. D. C. Stärk3E. grosse Beilage4Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverVeterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent UniversityVeterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent UniversitySAFOSO AGField Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverAbstract Background Antimicrobial usage in food producing animals is of major concern. A clear link between the extent of use and the development of antimicrobial resistance has already been demonstrated. To evaluate strategies that may reduce the antimicrobial usage while assuring pig health and welfare, it requires profound knowledge of factors that are associated with antimicrobial usage. Data on biosecurity and herd management practices are important parameters to identify risk factors which are related to a higher antimicrobial usage. To investigate between-farm variations of high and low usage the treatment incidence (TI) per age group in 60 German farrow-to-finish herds was qualitatively and quantitatively analysed and linked to biosecurity measures, and herd management characteristics. Results Weaned pigs received most of the treatments (median TI = 487.6), followed by suckling pigs (median TI = 138.9). Suckling pigs were treated with critically important antimicrobials (3rd and 4th generation cephalosporines) to a remarkable extent. The number of sows present at site (p < 0.01) and a low score for external biosecurity (p = 0.06) were associated with a higher antimicrobial usage in pigs from birth till slaughter. Herds with a higher treatment incidence in growing pigs (TI 200 days): i) were located in a region with a high pig density (p < 0.01), ii) had a less strict access check for visitors and personnel (p < 0.01) and iii) scored lower in the subcategory ‘cleaning and disinfection’ (internal biosecurity) (p < 0.01). Herds with a higher treatment incidence in breeding pigs weaned more piglets per sow and year and scored better in the internal biosecurity level (p = 0.02). Conclusions With the main focus on the treatment incidence in pigs from birth till slaughter and in breeding pigs risk factors for a high usage in these age groups were identified. The level of biosecurity of a herd was associated with the amount of antimicrobials used. Therefore, the findings in this study indicate possible points of action in the reduction and prudent use of antimicrobials in Germany. The active improvement of biosecurity measures could be a promising alternative to reduce antimicrobial usage on herd level.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40813-018-0106-5Pig productionAntimicrobial usageTreatment incidenceRisk factorsHerd sizeBiosecurity |
| spellingShingle | S. Raasch M. Postma J. Dewulf K. D. C. Stärk E. grosse Beilage Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms Porcine Health Management Pig production Antimicrobial usage Treatment incidence Risk factors Herd size Biosecurity |
| title | Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms |
| title_full | Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms |
| title_fullStr | Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms |
| title_short | Association between antimicrobial usage, biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms |
| title_sort | association between antimicrobial usage biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in german farrow to finish farms |
| topic | Pig production Antimicrobial usage Treatment incidence Risk factors Herd size Biosecurity |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40813-018-0106-5 |
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