343 – Associations between antimicrobial use and the prevalence of resistant micro-organisms Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance data (Research report – Sda – 2016)

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343 Research report – Sda – 2016 – Associations between antimicrobial use and the prevalence of resistant micro-organisms Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance dat

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Beef;
Age: Young;
Summary:
An expert panel analyzed the relationship between antimicrobial use in the Dutch livestock sector and the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant micro-organisms in livestock. Changes in usage and resistance levels between 2009 and 2014, for most of the commonly used antibiotics, the strongest declines in usage levels were observed in the pig (54%) and broiler (57%) farming sectors. In most livestock sectors, total and antimicrobial-specific usage levels are clearly associated with the antimicrobial-specific resistance levels. Is it possible to benchmark livestock farms based on resistance data? This would require information on resistance-related risks such as public health risks, and currently available data do not allow for quantification of such risks. If an acceptable resistance level were to be determined, the corresponding antimicrobial usage level could serve as the basis for benchmarking values. As yet, however, no acceptable resistance level has been defined.

Where to find the original material: https://cdn.i-pulse.nl/autoriteitdiergeneesmiddelen/userfiles/Publications/def-engels-rapport-abgebruik-en-resistentie-0516.pdf;
Country: NL

331- Social influences on the duration of antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows (Research paper – Swinkels – 2015)

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331 Research paper – Swinkels – 2015 – Social influences on the duration of antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:
The aim of this study was to explore the social factors influencing farmers’ decision-making on the duration of antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis. Extended treatment is perceived as part of the social norm of “being a good farmer.” The participants’ perception was that mastitis is not treated “thoroughly” if clinical symptoms were still visible at the time of cessation of treatment. Groups with whom the farmer identifies and regularly communicates face to face, such as other farmers, the herd veterinarian, and other farm advisors, confirm the farmer’s judgment on extending treatment and influences him or her toward socially accepted behavior. Legislation may reduce antibiotic usage, if doable and controllable. Evidence-based information on treatment efficacy or practical on-farm decision support indicating when to end treatment may be able to change social norms of “thorough” treatment, especially when communicated by a group such as veterinarians.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030215000879; http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8488
Country: NL; DE

318 – Perceptions circumstances and motivators that influence implementation of zoonotic control programs on cattle farms (Research paper – Ellis-Iversen – 2010)

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318 Research paper – Ellis-Iversen – 2010 – Perceptions circumstances and motivators that influence implementation of zoonotic control programs on cattle farms

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \
Species targeted: Dairy; Beef;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
The implementation of disease control programs on farms requires an act of behavioral change. Interviews were conducted with 43 farmers in England and Wales with the objective to explore the perception of responsibility for zoonotic control among cattle farmers and identifying barriers that influence the implementation of control programs. Younger farmers and/or larger herds were more likely to place financial responsibility upon the industry rather than government. In general, attitudes towards zoonotic control were positive, but approximately half the farmers showed no intent to control. The remaining farmers showed intent to control, but had not implemented any structured control program due to external barriers including lack of knowledge and both cultural and economic pressure from society and industry. Farmers with no intent to adopt control measures identified their private veterinarian as the preferred motivator, whereas consumer-demand and financial rewards or penalties were significantly associated with farmers who intended to control.

Where to find the original material: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.11.005; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.11.005
Country: UK

317 – Antimicrobial use in Swedish farrow-to-finish pig herds is related to farmer characteristics (Research paper – Backhans 2016)

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317 Research paper – Backhans 2016 – Antimicrobial use in Swedish farrow-to-finish pig herds is related to farmer characteristics

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:

The farm , or farm-related factors influencing antimicrobial (AM) use in 60 farrow-to finish pig farms in Sweden was investigated and how biosecurity level, farmers’ attitudes to AM and information provided by the herd veterinarian influence AM use under Swedish conditions. There was no significant association between biosecurity and AM use and attitudes to AM were also not significant associated with AM use. However, individual characteristics of farmer were found to be important. Older farmers, females and university-educated farmers used more AM in suckling piglets, and older farmers use more AM in weaners. Larger farms were associated with higher treatment incidence in fatteners. The lack of association between AM use and biosecurity was explained by the general better biosecurity level in Swedish herds and may thus be more difficult to identify, and might be due to the overall better health status of the pigs.

Where to find the original material: https://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40813-016-0035-0; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-016-0035-0
Country: SE

315 – Determinants of antimicrobial treatment for udder health in Danish dairy cattle herds (Research paper – Gussmann – 2017)

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315 Research paper – Gussmann – 2017 – Determinants of antimicrobial treatment for udder health in Danish dairy cattle herds

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This study analyzes database recordings of milk yield and somatic cell count from routine milk recording schemes, clinical registrations of mastitis, and cow factors such as days in milk and parity in relation to antibiotic treatments for 518 dairy herds in Denmark. Analysis was performed to identify the driving predictors for treatment in different groups of farms. The results showed that determinants that were most important for predicting antibiotic treatments vary from one farm to another. Health indicators such as test results or somatic cell count were most indicative for treatment on some farms, whereas other groups seemed to depend more on production factors (milk yield) or later culling of the cows. This shows that farmers behave differently and differences can be identified in register data. This information can be considered when developing cost-effective herd-specific control measures of mastitis to promote prudent use of antibiotics in Danish dairy cattle farms.

Where to find the original material: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(17)30952-9/fulltext; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12994
Country: DA

310 – A participatory farmer-led approach to changing practice around antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms (Research paper – Morgans – 2019)

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310 Research paper – Morgans – 2019 – A participatory farmer-led approach to changing practice around antimicrobial use on UK dairy farms

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance Disease/health; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Five Farmer Action Groups (FAG) were established and followed for 2 years to understand how a participatory approach helped to achieve practical, farmer-led changes to reduce reliance on antimicrobials on their farms. Medicine Reviews, benchmarking and a co-created, practical Action Plan helped each farm to assess change in AMU. Farms implemented at least one recommendation from their Action Plan within a year with an average implementation of 54.3%. 70% of farms reduced highest priority critically important antimicrobial use over the 2 years. Knowledge exchange on herd health during the farm walks and facilitated discussions empowered farmers to change practices and a sense of solidarity arose from going through a process of change together. Knowledge gaps were identified by the farmers, particularly issues around knowledge mobilisation between veterinarians and farmers at the time of the study. The facilitators supported the knowledge mobilisation and helped build a sense of solidarity within the FAG.

Where to find the original material: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/a-participatory-farmer-led-approach-to-changing-practice-around-a;
Country: UK

305 – Decentring antibiotics – UK responses to the diseases of intensive pig production (Research paper – Woods – 2019)

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305 Research paper – Woods – 2019 – Decentring antibiotics_ UK responses to the diseases of intensive pig production

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
It is assumed that antibiotics had a transformative effect on livestock production by making it possible to keep larger numbers of animals in smaller spaces without them succumbing to disease. This article argues that their impact has been overstated. It draws on evidence from the veterinary, farming and government literature to demonstrate the significance of other methods devised by vets, farmers etc. of reducing diseases that emerged in association with intensive production systems. These methods predated antibiotics and evolved alongside them. They understood pig diseases as highly complex interactions between pigs and their environments. Recognition of the roles played by housing, husbandry, nutrition, and pathogens in the production of pig disease suggested multiple possible points of intervention other than antibiotics. This article challenges existing claims about antibiotics role in intensive farming, and draws attention to other methods of promoting pig health, which may find renewed applications as we move towards a post-antibiotic era.

Where to find the original material: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-019-0246-5#article-info; https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0246-5
Country: UK

304 – Strategies for reduced antibiotic usage in dairy cattle farms (Research paper – Trevisi – 2014)

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304 Research paper – Trevisi – 2014 – Strategies for reduced antibiotic usage in dairy cattle farms

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Farmer; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The need for antibiotic treatments in dairy cattle farms can be reduced by a combined intervention scheme based on: (1) timely clinical inspections, (2) the assessment of animal-based welfare parameters, and (3) the use of predictive laboratory tests. These can provide greater insight into the current status of dairy cows and define animals at risk of contracting disease. In the long-term, improved disease control justifies the adoption of such a combined strategy. Many antibiotic treatments for chronic disease cases are often not justified after a cost/benefit analysis, because the repeated treatment does not give rise to the expected outcome in terms of animal health. With untreated cases, antibiotics may not lead to greater cure rates for some forms of mastitis. Lastly, a substantial reduction of antibiotic usage in dairy farms can be achieved through the proper use of immunomodulators, aimed at increasing immunocompetence and disease resistance of cows.

Where to find the original material: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24508188/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.01.001.
Country: IT

303 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock – Where Should We Focus (Research paper – Magouras – 2017)Research paper – Magouras – 2017

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303 Research paper – Magouras – 2017 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock_ Where Should We Focus

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use; Prudent use AB
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Different for different species
Summary:
Antimicrobials play a crucial role in animal health, animal welfare, and food-safety . However, a not yet quantifiable share of the burden of AMR is attributable to the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. Resistant bacteria can be introduced into the environment in many ways, such as the land application of livestock manure as fertilizer. Our understanding of AMR in livestock production is hampered by the lack of antimicrobial usage (AMU) data in many countries. AMR development and spread is driven by human behaviour, from the prescription of antimicrobials to infection prevention and control. This complexity necessitates the need for highly interdisciplinary research approaches, comprising humans, animals, and the wider environment. In line with the WHO global action plan on AMR, research should be prioritized toward understanding the social/behavioural drivers of AMU and AMR, establishing/improving systems to monitor AMU, and encouraging a holistic approach to AMR through the One-Health concept.
303 Research paper – Magouras – 2017 – Antimicrobial Usage and -Resistance in Livestock_ Where Should We Focus
Where to find the original material: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00148/full; https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00148
Country: CH

290 – The Five Point Plan – A successful tool for reducing lameness in sheep (Research paper – Clements – 2014)

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290 Research paper – Clements – 2014 – The Five Point Plan_ a successful tool for reducing lameness in sheep

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals Euthanasia/culling; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Sheep;
Age: Not stated;
Summary:
Lameness constitutes a major animal welfare and economic challenge across the sheep sector, costing an estimated £24 million to the UK industry. The high volume of antibiotic currently used to tackle the estimated 9 million lameness cases that occur annually in the UK is also concerning. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an achievable farm-level solution, the Five Point Plan, to reduce lameness levels to FAWC targets. The Five Point Plan has five action points that support the animal in three different ways: building resilience, reducing disease challenge and establishing immunity. It was then implemented on a UK sheep farm over a four-year study period (2009–2013). Lameness prevalence across the study flock was measured monthly by a single observer using a simple 6-point locomotion score. The results show that lameness reduction is achievable within a relatively short time scale but does require long-term commitment in order to sustain success.

Where to find the original material: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263294503_The_’Five_Point_Plan’_A_successful_tool_for_reducing_lameness_in_sheep; https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.102161
Country: UK