Application of multiblock modelling to identify key drivers for antimicrobial use in pig production in four European countries

Abstract

Antimicrobial use in pig farming is influenced by a range of risk factors, including herd characteristics, biosecurity level, farm performance, occurrence of clinical signs and vaccination scheme, as well as farmers' attitudes and habits towards antimicrobial use. So far, the effect of these risk factors has been explored separately. Using an innovative method called multiblock partial least-squares regression, this study aimed to investigate, in a sample of 207 farrow-to-finish farms from Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden, the relative importance of the six above mentioned categories or 'blocks' of risk factors for antimicrobial use in pig production. Four country separate models were developed; they showed that all six blocks provided useful contribution to explaining antimicrobial use in at least one country. The occurrence of clinical signs, especially of respiratory and nervous diseases in fatteners, was one of the largest contributing blocks in all four countries, whereas the effect of the other blocks differed between countries. In terms of risk management, it suggests that a holistic and country-specific mitigation strategy is likely to be more effective. However, further research is needed to validate our findings in larger and more representative samples, as well as in other countries.

Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Use on Irish Pig Farms

“…Therefore, it would be expected that disease burden is the primary driver for AMU. However, the relationship between disease burden and AMU is not well-characterised [17,18].…”

“…Vaccination is considered a key tool in disease control and in reducing reliance on AMU [27][28][29][30]. However, despite effectiveness in field studies [31][32][33], vaccination has been associated with increased AMU in several studies [17,24,30,34,35]. Finally, socio-economic and demographic factors such as age, gender, education or years of experience [36] and attitudes to AMR [37] can influence on farm AMU, although their relative importance appears to differ depending on nationality [17].…”

“…However, despite effectiveness in field studies [31][32][33], vaccination has been associated with increased AMU in several studies [17,24,30,34,35]. Finally, socio-economic and demographic factors such as age, gender, education or years of experience [36] and attitudes to AMR [37] can influence on farm AMU, although their relative importance appears to differ depending on nationality [17]. In general, pig farmers perceive AMs as an effective and cost-efficient tool in disease management [30,[38][39][40] and, at least in the past, were poorly aware or unconcerned about the risks of AMR [38,39,41].…”

“…According to Collineau et al, the relative importance of risk factors associated with AMU varies between countries [17]. In Ireland, pig production accounts for approximately 40% of veterinary AM consumption, with prophylactic administration of medicated feed being the dominant practice [47], but the drivers for this use on Irish farms have not been studied previously.…”

Transition Pathways Toward the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials: The Case of Free-Range Broiler Farmers in France

“…Extensive research has been done recently to define appropriate standards for quantifying and monitoring AMU in livestock ( 12 , 13 ). Epidemiological studies also have helped to successfully identify risk factors and drivers influencing actual AMU on cattle ( 14 ), swine ( 15 ), and poultry farms ( 16 – 18 ). However, the translation of research results into public policies which are able to induce change in the field remains an important challenge ( 19 ).…”