By Cara Haden, DVM
Do you work with a veterinarian and do you follow their guidelines for antimicrobial use?
The bare minimum to meet this requirement is to have a veterinarian physically on site one time per year and to have written scripts for all prescription products on site. If this is the only interaction you are having with a veterinarian, consider getting value for your operation with more veterinarian interaction.
Here are three key questions to ask yourself as you consider the role of antibiotics in your operation in 2021.
1. Do you assess the advantages and disadvantages of all uses of antibiotics?
We often choose antibiotics based on what is either cheap, what is convenient, or both. As an industry we need to think hard about the following questions:
- Is a whole herd treatment necessary here, or should this be treated with individual injections?
- Am I jumping to use antibiotics that are “critical” for human health, when antibiotics that are not “critical” may work?
- Is there a certain amount of morbidity or mortality that is o.k. to accept instead of widespread antibiotic use?
2. Do you use antibiotics only when they provide measurable benefits?
As an industry (and I, myself, am guilty), we like to jump into treatment at the first sign of a problem. In the case of certain diseases (PRRS, Hemolytic e.coli, Salmonella, Actinobacillus suis, Erysipellas, etc.), treating is both wise and necessary. For other situations, the need to treat is not as clear cut.
- Would pigs have recovered equally well without treating the whole herd?
- Could that flu break have been managed with an anti-inflammatory?
- Would scours clear up on its own? Would a probiotic, acidifier or electrolyte have been adequate?
- Could that stiffness have been managed with a combination of an anti-inflammatory and getting pigs up multiple times in a day?
3. Do you take appropriate steps to decrease the need for the application of antibiotics?
This question encompasses everything you do daily basis and can be overwhelming to tackle. Start with the list below and assess your long-term strategies for reducing the need for antibiotics.
Wean pig
- Is my sow farm producing the right pig for my operation?
- Do I need an older pig?
- A healthier pig?
- A more consistent pig?
- A better genetic pig?
- A more fully vaccinated pig?
- Would a different source be better long term?
Facilities
- Soffits, inlets, fans, stir fans, curtains, heaters, brooders, lamps, mats, etc.: Do I have enough and are they functioning to provide the ideal environment for raising the pig I receive?
- Are my water sources/water lines providing potable water to my pigs?
- Is my barn set up for success with biosecurity?
Flow
- Am I maximizing my facilities while keeping in mind difficult health issues common with slow fills, multi-age production sites, co-mingled flows, overstocking and continuous flow facilities?
As pork producers, you are uniquely equipped to tell a compelling story about the pork you produce. Responsible antibiotic use is going to be an integral part of that story. Working through the questions above and meeting with your veterinarian is a great first step.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Pork Industry Voices Concern Over FDA’s Proposed Action on Carbadox
7 Alternatives To Antibiotic Use Identified By Researchers
