Massive use of antibiotics in farm animals

Massive use of antibiotics in livestock farming in Lower Saxony

30.11.2011

For years, the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry has been massively criticized. The inappropriate, generous use of antibiotics in the rearing of cattle, pigs and poultry poses considerable risks, so the accusation of environmental protection associations, medical, consumer and animal welfare organizations.

The Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Rural Development has now submitted a report on the use of antibiotics in livestock, which analyzed data on the frequency and duration of treatment and the type of active substance used. However, according to the ministry, the conclusion does not allow any conclusions about the relationship between farm size and frequency of drug use. Nor can it be concluded that the frequency of antibiotic treatment is illegal.

Fattening calves most often use antibiotics
The evaluation of the data collected by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Rural Development yielded the following result: In 83 percent of the examined broiler farms and in 93 percent of the turkey rearing and fattening farms, antimicrobial substances were used. In fattening pigs, antibiotics have been administered in 77% of the farms examined and 80% in fattening cattle (feeders). Farms with fattening calf stocks use 100 percent antibiotics. According to the Ministry, the amount of antibiotics used varies not only from farm to farm, but also from fattening to fattening within a farm.

Since the results did not allow a correlation between the size of a farm and the frequency of antibiotic use, individual operating data on the frequency of treatment should be collected in the future, according to the Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture Gert Lindemann (CDU). It may also be possible to counteract the illegal use of the drug, the evaluation of the data already collected no relationship between the frequency of antibiotic use and their illegal use, for example, to increase the growth of the animals allowed.

Minimization strategy for antibiotic use
These and other findings will now form the basis for a minimization strategy for antibiotic use. In the future, Minister Lindemann plans to record the frequency of treatment on a case-by-case basis. Based on this, a comparison of the use of medication could be made, which positively influences the responsible use of antibiotics by pet owners and veterinarians. Companies that use little or no antibiotics and use effective livestock management should act as role models for other farms. The minimization strategy also includes the factual evaluation of the test results. Minister Lindemann explained: „Too fast, occasionally inappropriate conclusions are drawn from surveys.“

Antibiotic use alarming
The North Rhine-Westphalian consumer protection minister Johannes Remmel (Alliance 90 / The Greens) said that the use of antibiotics in poultry fattening was less restrained: „For years, the poultry industry and the federal government from Union and FDP have repeatedly asserted that the use of antibiotics in the animal fattening is only the exception. Now we have it in black and white: antibiotic use is the rule and common practice.“ Remmel continues: „The use of antibiotics has reached a level that is alarming.“ Remmel refers to a recent study by the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia on the use of antibiotics in the poultry sector. According to the study, 96.4 percent of the animals tested were given antibiotics. Less than 4 percent of broilers received no antibiotics.

Antibiotics used to increase growth
Fattening farms are often assumed to use antibiotics not only to fight disease but also to promote growth and thus shorten the fattening period. However, the use of antibiotics to boost growth has been banned since 2006 across the EU. NDR Info reports on its website that broiler chickens still receive up to eight different antibiotics in a conventional farm - where the average chicken lives 35 days to slaughter. For broilers that are treated only to a small extent with antibiotics, the rearing phase extends to slaughter on average to 45 days, NDR Info continues. According to the NRW study, the antibiotics were administered for only one to two days in 53 percent of the cases examined. Since an antibiotic must be administered for five to six days until the pathogen dies off, the shortened intake can lead to serious consequences. Such a short duration of administration is for that reason inadmissible. Minister Remmel had commissioned the study to finally get reliable figures on antibiotic use in the poultry industry.

Poultry lobby is against data collection
In Germany since this year, data for drug delivery by zip codes in a nationwide file (DIMDI) are stored. However, the poultry industry is excluded from this. Data protection concerns were expressed. This exception is heavily criticized by veterinarians, green politicians and privacy advocates. Minister Remmel announced to NDR Info to review this Federal Council initiative to reverse the scheme. (Ag)

Also read:
Health: Chicken full of antibiotics
Antibiotics contaminated chicken
Health: Chicken full of antibiotics
Alternatives to antibiotics from naturopathy
Individual dosage of antibiotics required
There are no mild antibiotics

Picture: Nico Lubaczowski