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In comparison with 2015, almost all the sectors have managed to reduce the use of antibiotics even more. According to the data on the dose per day and animal, we can see a decrease in the use of antibiotics by 30.1% in chickens, by 26.5% in turkeys, by 5.3% in calves, by 3.2% in dairy cattle and by 1.9% in pigs. On the other hand, in the cattle sector there has been a rise by 1.1%. In a context of a low use of drugs, this slight increase is considered a natural variation. In total, the use of antibiotics has dropped by 64.4% between 2009 and 2016.
The important decrease in the broiler sector is noticeable, and it is partly due to the increase in the use of animals with a slower growth destined to the Dutch consumer. Regarding turkey production, this sector shows, for the first time, a significant decrease in the use of antibiotics. The SDa’s experts expect that the sector keeps reducing their use, as they deem it necessary. The pig sector goes on showing modest decreases that show a permanent attention to the reduction in the use of antibiotics.
Regarding colistin, in 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) established reference values. The use of colistin has dropped by 31% in 2016, and its use in Dutch farming is below the lowest reference value (1 mg/PCU kg) established by the EMA.
On the other hand, the SDa has performed a study on the critical success factors in cattle, fowl, pigs and veterinary sectors, and it is expected that it provides tools to farmers and veterinarians that allow to reduce the use and/or patterns of prescription of antibiotics. The results of these studies will be announced by mid-2017.
The SDa has established as its goal to attain a transparent and responsible use of antibiotics. The responsible use of antibiotics must lead to a lower antibiotic resistance in livestock rearing. By the end of this year the data on resistances will be presented.
Monday, 29 May 2017/ SDa/ The Netherlands.
http://www.autoriteitdiergeneesmiddelen.nl
