title: Alternatives to the use of antimicrobial agents in pig production: A multi-country expert-ranking of perceived effectiveness, feasibility and return on investment.
abstract: Nineteen alternatives to antimicrobial agents were ranked on perceived effectiveness, feasibility and return on investment (ROI) from 0 (not effective, not feasible, no ROI) to 10 (fully effective, completely feasible, maximum ROI) by 111 pig health experts from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The top 5 measures in terms of perceived effectiveness were (1) improved internal biosecurity, (2) improved external biosecurity, (3) improved climate/environmental conditions, (4) high health/Specific Pathogen Free/disease eradication and (5) increased vaccination. The top 5 measures in terms of perceived feasibility were (1) increased vaccination, (2) increased use of anti-inflammatory products, (3) improved water quality, (4) feed quality/optimization and (5) use of zinc/metals. The top 5 measures in terms of perceived ROI were (1) improved internal biosecurity, (2) zinc/metals, (3) diagnostics/action plan, (4) feed quality/optimization and (5) climate/environmental improvements. Univariate linear regression showed that veterinary practitioners rank internal biosecurity, vaccination, use of zinc/metals, feed quality optimization and climate/environmental on average highest, while researchers and professors focused more on increased use of diagnostics and action plans. Financial incentives/penalties ranked low in all countries. Belgian respondents ranked feed quality significantly lower compared to the German respondents while reduction of stocking density was ranked higher in Belgium compared to Denmark. Categorical Principal Component Analysis applied to the average ranking supported the finding that veterinary practitioners had a preference for more practical, common and already known alternatives. The results showed that improvements in biosecurity, increased use of vaccination, use of zinc/metals, feed quality improvement and regular diagnostic testing combined with a clear action plan were perceived to be the most promising alternatives to antimicrobials in industrial pig production based on combined effectiveness, feasibility and ROI.
authors: Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: Merel.Postma@ugent.be.
authors: Merel
authors: M
authors: Postma
authors: Safe Food Solutions Inc. SAFOSO AG, Bremgartenstrasse 109A, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Katharina D C
authors: KD
authors: Stärk
authors: Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Sjölund
authors: Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Backhans
authors: Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Büscheler Straße 9, D-49456 Bakum, Germany.
authors: Elisabeth Grosse
authors: EG
authors: Beilage
authors: Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Büscheler Straße 9, D-49456 Bakum, Germany.
authors: Svenja
authors: S
authors: Lösken
authors: ONIRIS, UMR 1300 BioEpAR, BP 40706, F-44307 Nantes, France.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Belloc
authors: Safe Food Solutions Inc. SAFOSO AG, Bremgartenstrasse 109A, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Lucie
authors: L
authors: Collineau
authors: ETH Zürich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Consumer Behavior, Clausiusstrasse 37, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Iten
authors: ETH Zürich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Consumer Behavior, Clausiusstrasse 37, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Vivianne
authors: V
authors: Visschers
authors: Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Axelborg, Axeltorv 3, DK-1609 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Elisabeth O
authors: EO
authors: Nielsen
authors: Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Dewulf
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005060:Europe; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Alternatives to antimicrobial agents; Biosecurity; Diagnostics and action plan; Financial incentives; Management; Pig production; Vaccination; Water and feed quality; Zinc oxide