177 Farm-economic analysis of reducing antimicrobial use whilst adopting improved management strategies on farrow-to-finish pig farms (Research paper – Rojo-Gimeno, 2016)
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Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
In the present study the economic impact of reduction of antimicrobial use coupled with improved management strategies, particularly biosecurity strategies was analysed. Interventions on antimicrobial use reduction were performed on farrow-to-finish pig farms in Flanders (northern region of Belgium). Results show costs of new biosecurity measures (median + 3.96 euro/sow/year), and new vaccinations (median 0.00/sow/year) did not exceed the cost reduction achieved by lowering the use of antimicrobials (median − 7.68 euro/sow/year). No negative effect of reducing antimicrobial use was observed on technical parameters and mortality of the finishers was reduced by −1.1%. Even after a substantial reduction of the antimicrobial treatments, the difference of the enterprise profit increased by + 2.67 euro/finisher pig/year after implementing these changes. The results of this study can be used by veterinarians and other stakeholders to persuade managers of farrow-to-finish operations to use biosecurity practices as a cost-effective way to reduce antimicrobial use.
Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27317325; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.05.001
Country: BE