Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has been recognized as one of the top health threats to human society. Abundant use of antibiotics in both humans and animals has led to ever-increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In food production, decreasing morbidity in beef herds would be an effective way to reduce the use of antibiotics. The objective of this retrospective observational study was to determine overall morbidity on calf rearing farms and to identify associated risk factors. Data were collected by questionnaire, meat companies’ databases and the national cattle register for 28,228 calves transported to 87 calf rearing farms. All medications given to these calves were retrospectively followed for 180 days from calf arrival to the farm. In total, 34,532 parenteral antibiotic medications were administered to the 28,228 study calves (122.3%), and 17,180 calves (60.9%) were medicated with antibiotics at least once during the follow-up. Higher numbers of calves transported to the same farm and larger age variation in calves in the same arrival batch were both associated with increased morbidity. In contrast, higher arrival age of individual calves was associated with decreased morbidity. Our study identifies several factors to consider in decreasing morbidity and antibiotic usage on calf rearing farms.
Highlights
High morbidity from infectious diseases and following intensive use of antibiotics has become a serious problem on calf rearing farms and in the beef production sector overall [1,2,3]
With the continued emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the attention of consumers and other stakeholders is directed to consumption of antibiotics in food production animals [4,5]
Treatment incidence was highest on specialized calf rearing farms and lowest on fattening farms for weaned calves (Table 1)
Summary
High morbidity from infectious diseases and following intensive use of antibiotics has become a serious problem on calf rearing farms and in the beef production sector overall [1,2,3]. An association between antibiotic usage in cattle herds and the presence of antibiotic resistance was shown earlier [6]. Human infections caused by livestock-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) have been reported [7]. This development has driven the food producing industry to seek new methods to reduce antibiotic consumption. The best way to improve sustainable antimicrobial usage without causing animal welfare problems is to identify preventive methods and management practices to decrease the morbidity of food production animals
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