In the past ten years, antimicrobial use has decreased in Danish pigs

In 2019, Danish pig producers reached the target for reduction of antimicrobial usage set by the MRSA action plan. These are some of the findings in a report from Statens Serum Institut and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.

Around 75% of the total veterinary-prescribed antimicrobials are used for treatment in pigs. As such, there are many initiatives aimed at promoting prudent antimicrobial use in pigs. The frequency with which pigs are treated with antimicrobials has decreased by 30% over the past decade.

Milestone reached

In 2019, Danish pig producers reached the target of the MRSA action plan of a 15% reduction in antimicrobial use since 2014. They reached the goal a year later than hoped, but in return with an overall 16% reduction.

“When the phasing out of zinc oxide in the pig production isn’t progressing more quickly than what we are seeing, it could be because the industry is awaiting results from research projects aimed at finding good alternatives, which do not require antimicrobials,” says Flemming Bager, Head of Division at DTU Food.

Source: DTU Food