Abstract
The vast majority of medicines in pig rearing are administered via oral group medication through medicated feed and drinking water. However, relevant on-farm factors affecting the concentration of these drugs in feed and drinking water, such as the homogeneity, stability, and cross-contamination, are largely unknown. To characterize these factors, samples of medicated feed and drinking water were taken on 24 Belgian pig farms during treatment and 2 days thereafter, as well as at different on-farm sampling sites from production to feeding troughs or drinking nipples. The samples contained amoxicillin, doxycycline, florfenicol, or flubendazole. Additionally, a questionnaire was completed. In contrast to the results of medicated feed, results of medicated water showed a large between-farm variation in antimicrobial drug concentration. The therapeutic concentration range was only met in 2 out of 11 farms using medicated feed, and in 3 out of 13 farms using medicated water. Medicated feed concentrations were often below the therapeutic concentration range mentioned in the Summary of Product Characteristics, while drinking water concentrations were just as often above as they were below the advised target concentration range. Drug residues measured 2 days after the end of therapy with both feed and water medication rarely exceeded 1% of the lowest therapeutic concentration. This study demonstrates that recommendations on good clinical practices for oral group medication in the pig industry are highly needed.
Highlights
IntroductionOral group therapy with antimicrobials and anthelmintics is common practice in livestock farming.Especially in pig production, antimicrobial drugs are primarily administered through the feeding and drinking water system [1,2].Antibiotics 2020, 9, 563; doi:10.3390/antibiotics9090563 www.mdpi.com/journal/antibioticsMedicated feed in the pig industry in Belgium is prepared either by (a) the compound feed manufacturer at the feed mill, i.e., for antimicrobials via a mixer at the end of the production line, whereas anthelmintics such as flubendazole can be mixed at the main production line; (b) the compound feed manufacturer at the moment of delivery at the farm using a fine dosing system mounted on the delivery truck; or (c) the pig farmer on the farm using a dosing system on the feed line, or by topdressing [2,3]
Medicated feed in the pig industry in Belgium is prepared either by (a) the compound feed manufacturer at the feed mill, i.e., for antimicrobials via a mixer at the end of the production line, whereas anthelmintics such as flubendazole can be mixed at the main production line; (b) the compound feed manufacturer at the moment of delivery at the farm using a fine dosing system mounted on the delivery truck; or (c) the pig farmer on the farm using a dosing system on the feed line, or by topdressing [2,3]
Medicated feed was produced at the feed mill with an end-of-line mixer (n = 9), or a veterinary medicinal product was mixed by the farmer using a dosing system on the feed line
Summary
Oral group therapy with antimicrobials and anthelmintics is common practice in livestock farming.Especially in pig production, antimicrobial drugs are primarily administered through the feeding and drinking water system [1,2].Antibiotics 2020, 9, 563; doi:10.3390/antibiotics9090563 www.mdpi.com/journal/antibioticsMedicated feed in the pig industry in Belgium is prepared either by (a) the compound feed manufacturer at the feed mill, i.e., for antimicrobials via a mixer at the end of the production line, whereas anthelmintics such as flubendazole can be mixed at the main production line; (b) the compound feed manufacturer at the moment of delivery at the farm using a fine dosing system mounted on the delivery truck; or (c) the pig farmer on the farm using a dosing system on the feed line, or by topdressing [2,3]. In our previous survey conducted on 52 Belgian pig farms [2], medicated drinking water and feed were used on 90.4% and 69.2% of the farms, respectively. In the latter case, feed was purchased from a compound feed manufacturer in 68.2% of the cases, topdressing was used on 25.0% of the farms, and a dosing device on the feed line was used on 6.8% of the farms. Medicated drinking water was prepared using a mechanical dosing pump (51.9%), an electrical dosing pump (30.8%), or a drinking water reservoir (30.8%). The same study concluded that there is considerable room for improvement for oral group treatment by optimizing cleaning and disinfecting protocols used at the farm, developing appropriate pharmaceutical formulations for drinking water medication, performing regular controls of the drinking water quality, and using separate pipeline circuits
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