with rising cell counts during lactation and then target them using a more natural remedy in the form of a bolus from AHV. “Since adopting this practice of targeting cows we are witnessing less cases of clinical mastitis and only the odd case of environmental mastitis. We are now using zero antibiotics during lactation and this year only 15% of the herd received an antibiotic when being dried off. “I was very glad to see alternatives to antibiotics coming on the market because cows were needing more tubes to dry them off and sometimes an injection was required on top of that,” says Stephen. Vets are also coming round to the idea that the blanket use of antibiotics is not sustainable but make the point that some use is necessary when essential.
Targeting failures Peter Zieger, a vet working with global feed additive manufacturer Diamond V, says “as a vet I see the need to be more and more critical when using antibiotics in livestock as we do have a lot of preventative and animal health supporting measures available. “The use of vaccines still offers a huge potential. Less than 20% of calves are vaccinated in Germany against respiratory diseases, but still one out of three calves eventually has to be treated in the first year for lung problems. “Dam’s vaccination for neonatal scour prevention is, however, more frequent at an estimated 50%, but cannot reduce the incidences of 20% scours or 30% navel infections, which has
been shown by a huge prevalence study in 765 German farms recently. “Colostrum management is still a major threat, and bedding in calves is still poor. As a vet I see a huge consultancy issue targeting these failures. As we see more and more, two out of three acute mastitis cases need no antibiotic treatment. “With drenching cows, we have a powerful adjunct tool to recover cows more rapidly. And not to forget, with nutritional additives like pre, pro or postbiotics we can have a fundamental effect on gut and lung health. “We at Diamond V see regular reductions of at least one third of antibiotics when feeding our yeast fermentation postbiotics,” concludes Peter.
Antimicrobial resistance There is a lot of work being carried out to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance, particularly resistance to antibiotics, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European medicines regulatory network. EMA is promoting prudent use of antimicrobials in animals, collecting data on the use of veterinary antimicrobials in the EU, and providing scientific recommendations on the use of specific antimicrobials in animals. The EMA says antimicrobial use in animals can contribute to the emergence of resistant bacteria that can be transferred to humans through the food chain or direct contact. This can reduce the effectiveness of antimicrobials for treating human disease.
▶ ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION | DECEMBER 2021 37
Farmers are slowly coming around to the fact blanket use of antibiotics is no longer sustainable.
PHOTO: CHRIS MCCULLOGH
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