title: Strategies for reduced antibiotic usage in dairy cattle farms.
abstract: The need for antibiotic treatments in dairy cattle farms can be reduced by a combined intervention scheme based on: (1) timely clinical inspections, (2) the assessment of animal-based welfare parameters, and (3) the use of predictive laboratory tests. These can provide greater insight into environmental adaptation of dairy cows and define animals at risk of contracting disease. In the long-term, an improved disease control justifies the adoption of such a combined strategy. Many antibiotic treatments for chronic disease cases are often not justified with a cost/benefit analysis, because the repeated drug administration does not give rise to the expected outcome in terms of animal health. In particular, compared with untreated cases, antibiotics may not lead to greater cure rates for some forms of mastitis. Lastly, a substantial reduction of antibiotic usage in dairy farms can be achieved through the proper use of immunomodulators, aimed at increasing immunocompetence and disease resistance of cows.
authors: Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
authors: Erminio
authors: E
authors: Trevisi
authors: Dept. Veterinary Sciences and Public Health - Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Zecconi
authors: Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Cogrossi
authors: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Razzuoli
authors: Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Grossi
authors: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.amadori@izsler.it.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Amadori
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Dairy cow; Disease resistance; Predictive parameters; Usage