risk of AMR. Some of this is due to the concern raised by consumers and other segments of the food supply change on this issue. Fortunately, proper measures of prevention in the areas of nutrition and overall management can greatly help reduce the need for any antibiotic treatment in the first place. It all starts with promoting herd health and natural immunity.
Nutrition and prevention One of the most critical factors of health and disease prevention is overall nutrition. “The majority of the immune system resides within the gastrointestinal tract,” says Gott, “so proper nutrition plays a role in animal health for a variety of reasons.” A proper diet for adequate intake is a cornerstone in maintaining an optimal energy balance – especially important in the case of lactating dairy cattle and other animals performing at high energy levels – as well as being a way to support production and promote health. Besides the main vitamins and minerals, Vitamins E and D, Gott notes, along with selenium, copper and zinc are incredi- bly important for immune function. “Additional nutrients including certain fatty acids are being investigated for the roles they play beyond serving as a source of energy,” she adds. “Nutraceuticals is one common term used for such products that are considered as alternatives to traditional antimicrobi- als,” says Gott. “Some of the categories of feed additives which are reported to have potential health and/or performance benefits include phytogenics (ingredients of plant origin in- cluding herbs and spices, extracts, and essential oils) as well as yeast-based products (e.g., yeast culture, yeast cell wall in- cluding mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and beta-glucans) and other direct-fed microbials (i.e., probiotics).” Phytogenic feed additives, or PFAs, have a lot of variation in their formulations and concentration of active ingredients. Gott says that these range from being simple (made with one source) or compound (multiple sources) to be very complex with lots of blends. These have a wide range of benefits including feed intake promotion and enhancing palatability by adding in more pleasant flavours and scents. Additionally, they can also have other more biological-based properties that promote health by being anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and even antimicrobial like antibiotics. “It’s a complex topic,” says Gott, “but there is a lot of ongoing research to identify what benefits these types of products can have in cattle.”
Negative impact on productivity Diet can also impact health by having anti-nutritional factors at play. For example, mycotoxins present in contaminated feed or ingredients can hamper immune function and impair
48 ▶ ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION | DECEMBER 2021
Figure 1 - Combatting resistance with surveillance.
BASELINE DATA SPREAD ATTRIBUTION EDUCATION
POLICY
Documents resistance levels in different sources
Describes the spread of resistant bacterial strains and resistance genes
Generates hypotheses about sources of resistant bacteria
Data provides insight on current and emerging hazards
Guides sound scientifically-based policies and guidelines to make the best use of antimicrobials in hospitals, communities, agriculture, aquaculture, and veterinary medicine
health. They can also decrease productivity. With this in mind, Gott recommends always carefully monitoring feeds for contamination and assessing risk. Some non-specific signs of mycotoxin contamination include reduced feed intake, diarrhoea and impaired production. “These clinical signs may lead to more antimicrobial usage, but animals will not respond well to treatment if mycotoxins are the cause of the problems,” she continues. “By limiting mycotoxin exposure, the use of antibiotics may be reduced.”
Management and appropriate treatment A common issue with antibiotic usage is metaphylaxis treatment or group treatment of animals after a disease or infection has been found to reduce spread instead of implementing preventative strategies, according to Erin Schwandt a nutritionist and senior technical manager also with Biomin. “Nutrition, management and health collectively need to work together to reach optimal health and performance in cattle,” she says. “Ensure adequate feed intake, proper management (clean water, bedding, shelter, appropriate feed delivery, proper sorting, low-stress handling, rest on arrival, etc.), working with your vet to ensure appropriate vaccination, implant and deworming schedule in place.” Going hand-in-hand with management is the proper treatment for animals who need it. In dairy cattle, Gott points out that antimicrobials are used for both mastitis treatment and dry cow therapy. “Implementation of selective dry cow therapy (i.e., only treating certain cows which have been identified as eligible based on different health criteria) is an increasing topic of interest in the U.S.,” she says. “The use of selective dry cow therapy is common in other regions of the world, including mandated practice in some parts of the EU.” Of course, Gott adds that it is important to recall that there is no single product or management practice that can completely replace the need for antibiotic usage in livestock. Despite all the best management efforts and cutting-edge technology, illnesses can still happen and when they do should be addressed accordingly for animal welfare and food safety.
FIGURE CREDIT: U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (NARS)
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