low use of antimicrobials and healthy productive animals – a possible equation?

Magnusson 2016-08-29

Low use of antimicrobials and healthy and productive animals – a possible combination!

Professor Ulf Magnusson* Department of Clinical Sciences/ SLU Global

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU* Public funded only


Key messages :

Effective use of antimicrobials improves animal productivity and protects animal welfare

Non-rational use of antimicrobials contributes to emergence of antimicrobial resistance

It is possible to maintain good livestock productivity with low use of antimicrobials

Regulations of antimicrobial use are important but not enough – particularly in a global context

Mitigation of AMR is a public good and a true One world - One health issue


Uncertainties I

• AMR is spread by microbes or their genes

• If a pathogenic microbe becomes resistant – then we have a problem

• Non-rational use of antimicrobials drives selection for AMR

(Credit: P. Huey/Science)

The relative importance of the different routes of transmission are at large unknown


The uncertainties II

Global use of antimicrobials in livestock, Van Boeckel et al, 2015

Global data are weak and incomplete


Lowest use per animal-unit in the EU

• Still competitive productivity, e.g.23.5 pigs slaughtered per sow per year (InterPIG 2015)

ESVAC, 2016


Use in relation to human medicine

World USA Sweden0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Approximate percentage of the overall use of antimicrobials that are used in the livestock sector. Note that data are compiled from different sources; World estimate (van Boeckel 2015); USA (FDA, 2010); Sweden (National Veterinary Institute, 2016)


The Swedish Livestock-Antimicrobial story Ban of antimicrobials as feed additives in

1986 on farmer’s initiative !! Joined the EU in 1995 and a Governmental

Report on AMR and feed additives 1997EU banned antimicrobials as growth

promoters in 2006Success factors:Well-organized farmers and a well

developed and present public sectorStrong cooperation between farmers,

academia and governmental agencies


“Prevention is better than cure”effective animal health management

Disease preventive procedure MainlySkills +

MainlyCosts +

Effective use of antimicrobials (correct kind of antimicrobial, length of treatment, correct dosing, individual treatment)

x

Improved biosecurity, all-in-all-out systems, quarantine, AI instead of natural breeding

x

Improved housing, lowered stocking densities, age-sectioning of animals

x

More use of vaccines and vector control x

Better diagnostics, including testing for sensitivity to antimicrobials

x

Better sanitation x

Use breeds adopted to the disease-environment without hampering genetic improvement

x


Very different entry points…• Non-regulated pharmaceutical markets• Lack of access to effective drugs, etc.

ILRI,2014

In addition, • Mixed with crops• Pastoralist• Grazing-based• Intensive

= Animal production = Animal health management

• Halted AMR-emergence• Maintained, or

increased, production

• Continued AMR-emergence• Maintained production

• Halted AMR-emergence• Lowered production• Threatened FSN and

livelihood

= Antimicrobial use

No Action

Enforcedregulations only

Enforced regulations combined with effective animalhealth management

Regulations and Incentives


Reducing the use of antimicrobials and the emergence of AMR

is an integrated part of effective animal health management

low use of antimicrobials and healthy productive animals – a possible equation?

Food