Coaching Belgian and Dutch Broiler Farmers Aimed at Antimicrobial Stewardship and Disease Prevention.

Nele Caekebeke,Jeroen Dewulf,Tijs Tobias,On Behalf Of The I-4-1-Health Study Group ,Francisca Velkers,Arjan Stegeman,Franca Jonquiere,Moniek Ringenier,Merel Postma,Angelique Van Den Hoogen,Manon Houben,Nathalie Sleeckx

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10050590

Nele Caekebeke, Jeroen Dewulf + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10050590

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Abstract

A reduction in antimicrobial use (AMU) is needed to curb the increase in antimicrobial resistance in broiler production. Improvements in biosecurity can contribute to a lower incidence of disease and thereby lower the need for AMU. However, veterinary advice related to AMU reduction or biosecurity is often not complied with, and this has been linked to the attitudes of farmers. Behavior change promoted by coaching may facilitate uptake and compliance regarding veterinary advice. Thirty broiler farms in Belgium and the Netherlands with high AMU were included in this study for 13 months. For each farmer, the attitude towards AMU reduction was quantified using an adjusted Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement (ADKAR®) change management model, and farm biosecurity was assessed with the Biocheck.UGent™ tool. Subsequently, farmers were coached to improve disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. After the individual coaching of farmers, there was a change in their attitudes regarding AMU, reflected by an increase in ADKAR® scores. Biosecurity levels improved by around 6% on average, and AMU was reduced by 7% on average without negative effects on performance parameters. Despite these improvements, no significant association could be found between higher ADKAR® scores and lower AMU. Further investigation into sociological models is needed as a tool to reduce AMU in livestock production.

Highlights

Prudent use of antimicrobials (AMs) is of utmost importance, as it has been shown that increased selection pressure due to the use of AMs is the main driver in the selection of resistant microorganisms [1,2,3,4]
Veterinary advice related to antimicrobial use (AMU) reduction or biosecurity is often not complied with, and this has been linked to the attitudes of farmers
This study aimed to assess to what extent improvements in farm biosecurity, reductions in AMU, and improved attitudes towards antimicrobial stewardship could be obtained in 30 broiler farms in Belgium and the Netherlands through coaching and, subsequently, how these improvements could be linked to the ADKAR® profiles of the farmers

Summary

Introduction

Prudent use of antimicrobials (AMs) is of utmost importance, as it has been shown that increased selection pressure due to the use of AMs is the main driver in the selection of resistant microorganisms [1,2,3,4]. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem in both human and veterinary medicine. To control the problem of AMR and the possible exchange of resistant microorganisms between animals and humans [9,10], efforts are being made on both a national and global level to reduce AMU. Previous studies have shown that the level of AMU on a farm is influenced both by the health status of the animals and the attitudes of the farmers [16,17]. Both need to be addressed if AMU is to be reduced. Improving biosecurity and reducing AMU requires changes in the attitudes and behaviors of farmers

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