Evaluation of the relationship between the biosecurity status, production parameters, herd characteristics and antimicrobial usage in farrow-to-finish pig production in four EU countries.

On Behalf Of The Minapig Consortium ,Merel Postma,Jeroen Dewulf,Lucie Collineau,Annette Backhans,Ulf Emanuelson,Catherine Belloc,Svenja Loesken,Elisabeth Okholm Nielsen,Elisabeth Grosse Beilage,Katharina D C Stärk,Marie Sjölund

doi:10.1186/s40813-016-0028-z

Abstract

BackgroundHigh antimicrobial usage and the threat of antimicrobial resistance highlighted the need for reduced antimicrobial usage in pig production. Prevention of disease however, is necessary to obtain a reduced need for antimicrobial treatment. This study aimed at assessing possible associations between the biosecurity level, antimicrobial usage and farm and production characteristics in order to advice on best practices for a low antimicrobial usage and maximum animal health and production.A cross-sectional study was conducted in 227 farrow-to-finish pig herds in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden between December 2012 and December 2013. Associations between biosecurity status, antimicrobial usage, and production parameters were evaluated with multivariable general linear models, according to an assumed causal pathway.ResultsThe results showed that higher antimicrobial usage in sows tended to be associated with higher antimicrobial usage from birth until slaughter (p = 0.06). The antimicrobial usage from birth until slaughter was positively associated with the number of pathogens vaccinated against (p < 0.01). A shorter farrowing rhythm (p < 0.01) and a younger weaning age (p = 0.06) tended to be also associated with a higher antimicrobial usage from birth until slaughter whereas a better external biosecurity (p < 0.01) was related with a lower antimicrobial usage from birth until slaughter.ConclusionManagement practices such as weaning age and biosecurity measures may be important factors indirectly impacting on antimicrobial usage. We therefore promote a holistic approach when assessing the potential to reduce the need for antimicrobial treatments.

Highlights

High antimicrobial usage and the threat of antimicrobial resistance highlighted the need for reduced antimicrobial usage in pig production
The first efforts in some European Union (EU) countries show that a reduced usage of antimicrobials results in reduction of resistance levels as well [3, 10], which is the main focus of the international fight against antimicrobial resistance in animal production [11]
We assumed in the causal pathway that treatment of breeders could have an effect on the number of weaned piglets per sow per year, it may be possible that the association could be reversed and that high productive sows are more sensitive to diseases and require more antimicrobial treatments, in which case the higher productivity would lead to a higher treatment incidence” (TI) Breeding

Summary

Introduction

High antimicrobial usage and the threat of antimicrobial resistance highlighted the need for reduced antimicrobial usage in pig production. Bacteria are capable of developing resistance mechanisms against the antimicrobials used, either by genetic mutations or by taking up resistance genes from other bacteria [4]. This resistance selection is mainly triggered by the use of antimicrobials Reduced and prudent antimicrobial usage in animals became of high interest in recent years, mainly due to the public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development and possible transmission from the animal to the human population [6,7,8,9]. The first efforts in some EU countries show that a reduced usage of antimicrobials results in reduction of resistance levels as well [3, 10], which is the main focus of the international fight against antimicrobial resistance in animal production [11]

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