Lesson 3

Good Production Practice #3

Use Antibiotics Responsibly.

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Objective

• This lesson will help you:– Identify principles and guidelines for the responsible use of

antibiotics

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Responsible Antibiotic Use

• Antibiotic – Produced by mold or bacteria– Prevents growth or kills bacteria

• Antimicrobial– Produced in a laboratory– Prevents growth or kills bacteria

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Responsible Antibiotic Use

• Responsible antibiotic use helps prevent antibiotic resistance

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Responsible Antibiotic Use

• Benefits:– Health and well-being of

animals– Food safety– Human health

• Antibiotics do NOT replace good management or proper animal care!

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Responsible Antibiotic Use

• Treatment of illness – When an antibiotic is used in animals to help overcome an illness

• Prevention of bacterial infection when:– Animals have been exposed to a bacterial infection– Animals are currently exposed to bacterial infection– There is a history of a disease in an operation

• Improve nutritional efficiency:– In certain cases antibiotics are used to improve

animals’ feed conversion

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Principles and Guidelines

• Take steps to decrease the need for antibiotics

• Determine the advantages and disadvantages of using antibiotics

• Use antibiotics only when benefits are measurable

• Always use professional veterinary

input

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• Only use antibiotics following an appropriate clinical diagnosis

• Limit antibiotic treatment to sick or at-risk animals

Principles and Guidelines

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• Antibiotics that are important in treating antibiotic resistant infections in human or veterinary medicine should only be used in animals after careful review and reasonable justification

Principles and Guidelines

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• Mixing together animal health products, including antibiotics, by producers is illegal

• Proper handling, storage and disposal of medication and medicated feed is important to minimize environmental contamination

Principles and Guidelines

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• Prevention is the key– Implement biosecurity plan– Proper animal care– Hygiene– Routine health monitoring– Vaccination programs

Principles and Guidelines

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Take-Home Message

• Follow responsible antibiotic use guidelines

• Consult your veterinarian before using antibiotics

• Implement a herd health plan to help reduce the need for antibiotics

• As a pork producer it is your responsibility to use antibiotics properly

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Summary

• If you follow principles and guidelines for the responsible use of antibiotics you may help prevent antibiotic resistance.

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