Quantitative analysis of antimicrobial use on British dairy farms

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance has been reported to represent a growing threat to both human and animal health, and concerns have been raised around levels of antimicrobial usage (AMU) within the livestock industry. To provide a benchmark for dairy cattle AMU and identify factors associated with high AMU, data from a convenience sample of 358 dairy farms were analysed using both mass-based and dose-based metrics following standard methodologies proposed by the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption project. Metrics calculated were mass (mg) of antimicrobial active ingredient per population correction unit (mg/PCU), defined daily doses (DDDvet) and defined course doses (DCDvet). AMU on dairy farms ranged from 0.36 to 97.79 mg/PCU, with a median and mean of 15.97 and 20.62 mg/PCU, respectively. Dose-based analysis ranged from 0.05 to 20.29 DDDvet, with a median and mean of 4.03 and 4.60 DDDvet, respectively. Multivariable analysis highlighted that usage of antibiotics via oral and footbath routes increased the odds of a farm being in the top quartile (>27.9 mg/PCU) of antimicrobial users. While dairy cattle farm AMU appeared to be lower than UK livestock average, there were a selection of outlying farms with extremely high AMU, with the top 25 per cent of farms contributing greater than 50 per cent of AMU by mass. Identification of these high use farms may enable targeted AMU reduction strategies and facilitate a significant reduction in overall dairy cattle AMU.http://dx

Antimicrobial use in dairy cattle: ‘what gets measured gets improved’

“…In conclusion, Hyde and others 9 present an excellent evaluation of antimicrobial use metrics and behaviours, providing a baseline figure for antimicrobial use across the sample farms which is comparable to data provided by the Targets Task Force. Their work is timely and welcome as it provides both additional insight into high antimicrobial use practices and potential routes through which use can be reduced.…”

“…In a paper summarised on p 683 of this week's issue of Vet Record , Hyde and others 9 focus on the quote from management consultant Peter Drucker: ‘What gets measured gets improved’.…”

“…The mg/PCU metric describes the milligrams of antimicrobial used divided by the population number at risk multiplied by the estimated average weight at which the cow received the antimicrobial. Hyde and others 9 describe the problematic task of assigning a dairy cattle weight to calculate the mg/PCU. The authors indicate that the current weight of 425 kg assigned by the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) is an underestimate in comparison to the average weight of adult dairy cattle in the UK.…”

“…Identifying such high antimicrobial use behaviours will allow the industry to better target antimicrobial use interventions to reduce use at a farm, veterinary practice and national level. Due to the wide spectrum of antimicrobial use recorded by Hyde and others, 9 there is a need to approach antimicrobial reduction interventions at an individual farm level. For example, benchmarking can improve farmer awareness of their current antimicrobial use practices and may play a role in reducing high antimicrobial use behaviours and promoting prudent use.…”

Storage of prescription veterinary medicines on UK dairy farms: a cross-sectional study

“…Antimicrobial resistance is a recognised global threat and there have been many calls for improved understanding of antimicrobial prescription, use and recording (1,3,(6)(7)(8). Currently in the UK, antimicrobial use (AMU) in the dairy industry is measured through a combination of pharmaceutical production/import data and more recently using a sample of individual veterinary practice sales data.…”