Antibiotic use in pig farms at different levels of intensification—Farmers’ practices in northeastern Thailand

Abstract

Understanding the patterns and drivers of antibiotic use in livestock is crucial for tailoring efficient incentives for responsible use of antibiotics. Here we compared routines for antibiotic use between pig farms of two different levels of intensification in Khon Kaen province in Thailand. Among the 113 family-owned small-scale farms (up to 50 sows) interviewed did 76% get advice from the pharmacy about how to use the antibiotics and 84% used it primarily for treating disease. Among the 51 medium-scale-farms (100–500 sows) belonging to two companies did 100% get advice about antibiotic use from the company’s veterinarian (P<0.0001) and 94% used antibiotics mostly as disease preventive measure (P<0.0001). In 2 small scale farms 3rd generation cephalosporins, tylosin or colistin were used; antibiotics belonging to the group of highest priority critically important antimicrobials for human medicine. Enrofloxacin, belonging to the same group of antimicrobials, was used in 33% of the small-scale and 41% of the medium-scale farms. In the latter farms, the companies supplied 3–4 antibiotics belonging to different classes and those were the only antibiotics used in the farms. The median and mean estimated expenditure on antibiotics per sow was 4.8 USD (IQR = 5.8) for small-scale farms and 7 USD and 3.4 USD for the medium-scale farms belonging to the two respective companies. Our observations suggest to target the following areas when pig farming transitions from small-scale to medium-scale: (i) strengthening access to professional animal health services for all farmers, (ii) review of the competence and role of veterinary pharmacies in selling antibiotics and (iii) adjustment of farming company animal health protocols towards more medically rational use of antibiotics.

Geographic Drivers of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Pigs in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand

“…Descriptions of other methods to prevent diseases used in the farms were reported previously by collaborators ( 24 ). These include vaccination (75% of small-scale farms vs. 100% of medium-scale farms), use of medicated feed (0.9% of small-scale farms vs. 47.1% of medium-scale farms), and use of fencing around the farm (14.2% of small-scale farms vs. 100% of medium-scale farms).…”

“…We classified farms included in this study as small- or medium-scale farms according to the number of sows (small-scale included farms with <50 sows/farm and medium-scale included farms with 100 to 500 sows/farm). The small-scale farms were family owned, and for the majority of the farmers, keeping pigs was not their main income; these farms were then regarded as extensive ( 24 ). In contrast, the medium-scale farms were company owned with standard protocols for medication, vaccination, and feed; these farms were, thus, classified as intensive ( 24 ).…”

“…The small-scale farms were family owned, and for the majority of the farmers, keeping pigs was not their main income; these farms were then regarded as extensive ( 24 ). In contrast, the medium-scale farms were company owned with standard protocols for medication, vaccination, and feed; these farms were, thus, classified as intensive ( 24 ). In this cross-sectional study, 164 pig farms located in Khon Kaen province in Thailand were enrolled, including 113 classified as small-scale farms and 51 medium-scale farms.…”

“…Fecal samples were also collected from humans in direct contact with the pig production and from humans sharing the household but without direct contact with the pigs. Surveys ( 24 ) were conducted at all farms about farm size, level of education of the farmers, number of animals at the farm, feed management, presence of herd disease, methods for disease prevention, AMU (including use of antimicrobials in the farm and total cost), the responsible professional giving instructions for AMU (in small-scale farms), and manure management.…”

“…In the Khon Kaen province of Thailand, pig production farms are most commonly family-owned, small-scale farms (with fewer than 50 sows) ( 24 ); however, the occurrence of company-owned, medium-scale commercial farms (with 100 to 500 sows) is progressively increasing. This study addresses if farm-level factors that differ between small- and medium-scale farms—such as the number of animals per farm, use of antimicrobials added in the feed, presence of herd disease, AMU—have contributed to the rise of AMR in pigs, farmers, and people in contact with farmers in the Khon Kaen province of Thailand.…”