ISSUE FOCUS 48 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2023 In the past, the use of antibiotics was higher in animals than in humans. Therefore, the need to reduce antibiotic use in animal production was clearly recognized. Sweden banned the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in 1986 and other countries have since followed. The surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance in farm animals was established in different countries and the success of reducing antimicrobial use and its impact on AMR in recent years has become evident. Clearly, measurements were contributing to the success, but the main success driver was the reduction of antimicrobial use on the farm. Animal protein producers were able to improve biosecurity, farm management, and nutritional strategies, and increase the use of alternatives to antibiotics to prevent diseases. ALTERNATIVES TO ANTIBIOTICS Antibiotics are used in three principal ways in animal production: 1. Growth promotion - Antibiotics or so-called AGPs are administered to healthy animals to make them grow faster. Alternatives for AGPs that have been confidently used in recent years include probiotics, organic acids, plant-derived products, and essential oils as well as digestive enzymes. The use of AGPs is banned in most large livestock producing regions. We know that alternative solutions are very effective and can be used as part of the comprehensive approach to the improvement of farm management processes. 2. Disease prevention - With two possible scenarios: prophylactic use – where there are no symptoms of disease but there is a risk of disease, or metaphylactic use – where the first signs of disease appear in some animals and antibiotics can be administered to all animals in the group to prevent the spread of disease. The most common alternative for disease prevention is vaccination for many animal species. To proactively combat digestive tract diseases, gut health products such as pro/prebiotics, phytogenics, organic acids, and immune modulators - antibodies for passive immune response, are used. Since 2022, the prophylactic and metaphylactic use of antibiotics in Europe has been restricted. Further restrictions will target the treatment of group animals and the use of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine. 3. Disease treatment - Antibiotics are administered during the presence of disease. There is no real alternative to an antibiotic for treatment of bacterial infections. This is why we need to ensure that antibiotics can remain effective for the treatment of humans and animals in the future. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE BRIGHTER FUTURE Further interventions to reduce antimicrobial use will continue to have a beneficial impact on the occurrence of AMR, which underlines the need to promote the prudent use of antimicrobial agents, infection control and prevention in both humans and food-producing animals.
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