ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ORGANIC FARMING - LOWERING USE THROUGH GOOD HUSBANDRY ALLIANCE TO SAVE OUR ANTIBIOTICS | APRIL 2021 - Alliance to Save ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ORGANIC FARMING LOWERING USE THROUGH GOOD HUSBANDRY ALLIANCE TO SAVE OUR ANTIBIOTICS | APRIL 2021
CONTENTS Summary ............................................................................................5 1 Introduction ....................................................................................6 2 Reductions in antibiotic use in British farming ............................10 3 Organic standards and antibiotic use ............................................15 4 Antibiotic use in organic farming compared with non-organic farming ...............................................................18 5 Interviews of Soil Association producers on their attitudes to antibiotic use................................................................................24 Conclusion ..........................................................................................27 References ..........................................................................................29
SUMMARY
Antibiotic use is permitted in British and European organic livestock
farming. However, in contrast to the rules for most other forms of
farming, organic standards have never permitted routine antibiotic
use or the use of antibiotics for preventative mass medication.
Furthermore, organic farms are required to meet high animal health
and welfare standards.
For these reasons it can be expected In this sample, antibiotic use per livestock
that organic farms will use far fewer unit on Soil Association dairy farms was:
antibiotics than in intensive systems, even • Over four times lower than the national
though there has been a very welcome average overall
48% reduction in veterinary antibiotic use • On dairy farms it was less than half the
in the UK since 2014 following a number level found in a national survey of dairy
of voluntary actions taken by farmers. farms
However, for many years data on actual • On beef farms it was less than a third of
use levels in organic farming and how it the level found in a national survey of beef
compares to other types of farming has farms
been very limited. • On sheep farms it was less than a fifth of
the level found in the most recent large
ANTIBIOTIC USE ON SOIL ASSOCIATION survey of sheep farms.
CERTIFIED FARMS • On pig farms it was less than one 75th of
To remedy this problem a survey was the national average published by the pig
carried out of Soil Association certified industry
livestock farmers to determine average • On boiler-chicken farms it was less than
levels of antibiotic use. In total 248 one fifth of the national average published
farmers consented to take part and data by the poultry industry.
was successfully obtained from their vets • There was no antibiotic use on any of the
for 211 of these farms. Of these, 57 farms layer farms or on the turkey farms.
reported having dairy cattle, 119 had beef
cattle, 93 had sheep, 18 had pigs, 14 had The small sample sizes for the Soil
50 or more laying hens, six had 40 or more Association pig and poultry farms make
broiler chickens and one had turkeys. these figures less reliable and less
statistically significant, but they are
nevertheless consistent with the very low
levels of use found on organic pig and
chicken farms by a Defra study published
in 2006.
Despite the low level of antibiotic use found
in this survey, significant differences were
found in the use of antibiotics between
different farms. This suggests that further
reductions in average use in organic
farming remain possible.
4 Antibiotic use in organic farming 5
Antibiotic use in organic farming compared with UK average Average (Non-organic)
Organic
UK average 2019 Soil Association Organic 2019
(mg/pcu) (mg/pcu)
SA Organic sample is
SA Organic
4x
sample is
31 7.46 76%
less than
average
OVERALL lower than UK average
SA Organic sample is
SA Organic
2x
sample is
22.5 10.66 53%
less than
average
DAIRY lower than UK average
SA Organic sample is SA Organic
sample is
REASONS FOR LOW USE OF
ANTIBIOTICS ON ORGANIC FARMS
Interviews with Soil Association farmers
revealed that many of them considered
farmed animals and said that non-
organic farming could learn from organic
farming’s restrictive rules and husbandry
practices and that some regulatory
BEEF
24.5 7.22
3.5x
lower than UK average
70%
less than
average
cleanliness to be the most important changes may also be needed to reduce
SA Organic sample is
factor for maintaining good animal health antibiotic use in non-organic farming. * SA Organic
16.7 sample is
and thought that the best way to achieve
this was to minimise the period when
animals are kept indoors during winter
and to move livestock as frequently
as possible to fresh ground. Other
Similarly, in the UK, there is very large
potential for British non-organic farming
to learn from organic farming. Non-
organic farmers should consider adopting SHEEP
3.33 5x
lower than UK average
80%
less than
average
important husbandry factors mentioned some of the husbandry practices of
that contributed to good animal health organic farming which help minimise SA Organic sample is
included a low stocking rate, a low- disease and antibiotic use. SA Organic
stress environment, good nutrition,
later weaning of piglets and breeding
specifically for health traits rather than
just for productivity.
In 2019, overall UK farm antibiotic use
increased by 3% and this was partly
due to disease problems. Both the pig PIGS
110 1.42 77xlower than UK average
sample is
99%
less than
average
and poultry industry continue to rely
Restrictive organic rules on antibiotic on extremely high use of alternative SA Organic sample is SA Organic
use, and in the case of dairy farming the medication, such as coccidiostats in sample is
introduction of some “produced without
antibiotics” contracts, also help minimise
use.
poultry feed and zinc oxide in piglet feed,
to control widespread disease problems.
By adopting some of the practices of
organic farming many of these disease BROILERS
17 2.95 6x
lower than UK average
80%
less than
average
Similarly, scientists comparing the much problems can be minimised.
lower level of antibiotic use in Danish
organic pigs compared with non-organic The government and its regulators should
pigs said that they suspected that “not
only strict regulations on antibiotic
usage but also improved health related
to conditions like being born outdoor[s],
also learn from organic farming and raise
minimum husbandry standards for all
farming to ensure that disease-causing
practices associated with high antibiotic TURKEYS
42 0 / /
higher weaning age and lower stocking use are phased out.
density have an effect on antibiotic
usage.” This experience has heightened concerns
about future pandemics and raised
LESSONS FOR ALL FARMERS
Scientists in Denmark have also found
much lower antibiotic use in organically
awareness that we need to “build back
better” if we are to avoid similar disease
problems in the future1. LAYERS
0.68 0
/ /
6 *Up-to-date sheep data not available from VARSS. We’ve sourced the figure used above for sheep, here: https://aacting.org/swfiles/files/Fiona%20Lovatt_77.pdf 7
1.INTRODUCTION
The current Covid pandemic has demonstrated how large an impact
infectious disease can still have on the modern world. A lack of
reliable and effective treatments for infections caused by the SARS-
CoV-2 virus has led to millions of deaths. Lockdowns have resulted in
social isolation for millions and have had a major economic toll which
is yet to be calculated.
Another looming pandemic that However, in 2019 British veterinary systems in cattle farming 8. Feedlots are to Save Our Antibiotics and is a first
scientists have been warning of for antibiotic sales increased by 3%, the first common in the United States where there attempt to provide a convenience sample
years is antibiotic resistance2. The increase in use in five years. Levels of is very high antibiotic use in cattle 9. of the level of antibiotic use in organic
rise of antibiotic resistance means antibiotic use remain unsustainably high, farming in the UK.
that antibiotics, our most important particularly in the pig industry. According The organic sector, however, has long
medicines, are losing their effectiveness to the pig industry one explanation for the argued that a less intensive form of It is hoped that this work will provide
for treating a wide range of bacterial failure to significantly reduce antibiotic farming, such as that promoted by evidence that further large cuts in
diseases. This is a global crisis which use in 2019 has been high levels of swine organic standards, can help reduce antibiotic use can be achieved and that
experts warn threatens a century of dysentery 7. This a severe bacterial disease problems. Access to the making these reductions is likely to
progress in health and the achievement infection which spreads when pigs ingest outdoors and lower stocking densities require some of the approaches being
of Sustainable Development Goals 3. infected faecal matter, which is more (fewer animals per area) as required in used in organic farming to be used
likely to occur in unhygienic conditions. organic farming often reduce disease more widely.
Antibiotic-resistant infections already transmission between animals, just as
kill 700,000 people a year worldwide, While farmers efforts to reduce their social distancing and being outdoors
and according to the UK’s Antimicrobial reliance on routine antibiotic use have reduces the transmission of Covid in
Resistance Review, if we continue with been extremely welcome, if further, humans. Low levels of stress, appropriate
business as usual 10 million people a necessary reductions in antibiotic use are diets, the use of more resilient breeds
year could die of antibiotic resistance to be achieved, controlling or eliminating and the requirement for pigs to remain
worldwide by 2050 4. Scientists say
widespread disease problems will be with their mothers for longer before being
that the overuse of antibiotics in both
necessary. This raises the question of weaned can also reduce illness and the
human medicine and livestock farming
whether husbandry and the conditions need for antibiotics and other treatments.
contribute to the spread of antibiotic
in which animals are kept needs to
resistance in human infections 3.
significantly improve. However, while it is recognised that
organic farming already implements
Fortunately, action is being taken to
In the UK some animals which are many of husbandry practices associated
reduce antibiotic use and in the UK the
farmed non-organically are nevertheless with low disease, and although it also has
sales of veterinary antibiotics fell by
49% between 2014 and 2018 as industry kept outdoors, in fields, particularly in stronger restrictions on antibiotic use
introduced new voluntary actions and the case of sheep and cattle farming than non-organic farming, there is still a
standards 5. This reduction in antibiotic but also for some pigs and poultry lack of hard data showing that use levels
use has already led to falls in antibiotic farming. However, most pigs and poultry are in fact lower.
resistance in Escherichia coli bacteria in are farmed much more intensively and
livestock 5, 6. This is extremely welcome are kept indoors their entire lives, in For this reason, the Soil Association and
since no genuinely new antibiotics have cramped, unhygienic conditions where the George Farm Vets veterinary practice
been discovered for treating E. coli disease spreads more easily and where have teamed up to collect antibiotic-
infections in over 40 years. the reliance on some form of medication usage data from organic farmers
can be routine. There is also a trend certified by the Soil Association. This
towards more industrial, feedlot-type work has been supported by the Alliance
8 Antibiotic use in organic farming 9
Graph 1
Antibiotic active ingredient (tonnes) sold in the UK for veterinary use, 2009 to 2019 6
2. REDUCTIONS IN
500
450
400
ANTIBIOTIC USE IN 350
300
250
BRITISH FARMING 200
150
100
As the issue of antibiotic resistance has risen up the national and 50
international agenda, there has been an increased focus on farm 0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
antibiotic use. Globally, livestock accounts for an estimated
73% of all antibiotic use, although the percentage in the UK is
lower at around 30% 10,11.
All of these pressures and actions have
contributed to UK farm antibiotic use Table 1
In 2015, the Review on Antimicrobial guidelines which discourage routine Antibiotic use in pigs in countries where
being cut by nearly 50% between 2014
Resistance 4 established by the British antibiotic use 14, but unfortunately it still data available (mg of active ingredient per
and 2018, although use increased again
government published a report calling for does not support banning preventative kg of Population Correction Unit) 17
by 3% in 2019, see Graph 1.
global reductions in farm antibiotic use, mass medication.
and the following year the 71st General However, the failure to cut antibiotic
Assembly of the United Nations issued Poultry producers represented by the use in 2019 is of concern, as overall use
a Political Declaration on antimicrobial British Poultry Council (BPC), however, remains far too high. Antibiotic use in China (2012) 593
resistance calling for action 12. The stopped using antibiotics preventatively chickens, for example, has increased
European Union also made it clear that in 2016, and Red Tractor standards for from a fairly low level of 10 mg of active Australia (2010) 293
farm antibiotic use was too high and new poultry were subsequently updated to ingredient per kg of livestock unit in
restrictions on preventative use were prohibit such use, which has contributed 2017 to 17.5 mg/kg in 2019. Note that
proposed by the Commission in 2014. to large reductions in antibiotic use in the livestock unit used is the European US (2019) 280
These restrictions were strengthened by poultry. The National Pig Association Union’s “Population correction unit”
the European Parliament in 2018 and will (NPA), like RUMA, continues to support which is widely used in the UK and the EU Ireland (2016) 162
come into force in the EU, but perhaps allowing preventative use, although it too when comparisons are made between
not the UK, on 28 January 2022 when discourages routine use, and antibiotic antibiotic use levels in different livestock
all preventative group treatments with use in the pig industry has been cut populations. UK (2019) 110
antibiotics will be banned 13. significantly. Both the BPC and the NPA
now collect and publish antibiotic-usage Use in pigs has remained at a very high
These developments, and increasing Austria (2018) 106
data, and this too has motivated some level of 110 mg/kg in 2018 and 2019,
media coverage of the problem, have put farmers to cut their antibiotic use. although this is still a reduction of about
pressure on farmers to make changes. 60% on the levels in 2015 and industry France (2019) 78
Farming and veterinary organisations In addition, supermarkets have data suggests that use in the first half
decided that they needed to take introduced new policies aimed at reducing of 2020 fell to 104 mg/kg16. While this is
the initiative and have implemented antibiotic use and a campaign led by the Denmark (2019) 41
still a lot lower than use in some other
voluntary reductions in use 14. The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics has led countries, it remains more than 2.5
industry body, Responsible Use of to improvements in these supermarket times higher than in Denmark and the Netherlands (2019) 40
Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA), which standards and more data on supermarket Netherlands and nine times higher than
brings together farming and veterinary antibiotic use being published 15. in Sweden, see Table 1.
organisations and the pharmaceutical Sweden (2019) 12
industry, has introduced new antibiotics
10 Antibiotic use in organic farming 11
Nevertheless, the major reduction IONOPHORE USE IN POULTRY
in British farm antibiotic use is very In the poultry industry, there is 2012. This is of concern as it shows that
welcome and already seems to have had extremely widespread use of coccidiostat poultry remain highly medicated due
an effect on reducing antibiotic resistance antimicrobials which are used to control to unsanitary conditions in which many
levels in British pigs and chickens. the intestinal disease coccidiosis and can intensively farmed birds are kept.
EU-mandated harmonised testing of be routinely added to poultry feed without
Escherichia coli bacteria from chickens the need for a veterinary prescription. The overuse of ionophores may also be
and pigs at slaughter has found falling Coccidiosis only occurs when chickens creating unwanted antibiotic resistance.
levels of antibiotic resistance between ingest chicken droppings. This is a major There is evidence that the use of
2014 and 2019 5, 6. problem in intensive chicken production ionophores helps select for certain
where tens of thousands of birds can be bacteria in poultry which are resistant
Some of this reduction in use has come kept permanently indoors in a single shed to medically important antibiotics. The
about through increased awareness of with a space allowance of less than an A4 ending of ionophore use in Norway
the need for reductions from farmers sheet of paper per animal. appears to have had a substantial effect
and veterinarians and improvements in in reducing the incidence of these
industry guidance. There has been far The most widely used coccidiostats are bacteria in Norwegian poultry 20.
greater emphasis on avoiding routine antibiotics called ionophores. Ionophores
use and less reliance of using antibiotics are not counted in antibiotic usage There are also increasing suggestions
preventatively, particularly in the poultry data because they are not considered from scientists that, despite their
industry. medically important as their toxicity apparent toxicity, ionophores could be
means they are not used in humans. developed for use in humans in the
However, husbandry practices have not Graph 2 shows that ionophore use in future 21. A very recent study in Nature
fundamentally changed as intensive poultry is extremely high and, as the use Chemistry reported on the development
farming remains dominant in pig and of medically important antibiotics has of an ionophore that retained good
poultry production. As a result, certain reduced since 2013, the use of ionophores antibacterial activity while having
diseases remain routine and to control has increased significantly. The overall reduced toxicity against human cells.
them there has been increased reliance use of antibiotics, those that are The scientists said “our study suggests
on the use of alternative medication. medically important and the ionophores, the exciting prospect of optimizing
Below we examine two alternatives to which are not classified as medically polyether ionophores for use as
medically important antibiotics which are important, has remained very constant antibiotics [in humans]” 22.
widely used in poultry and pig production. although it was 3% lower in 2019 than in
If ionophores are developed as human
antibiotics they may need to become piglets are weaned too early 23. In non-
prescription-only antibiotics in the future organic farming, piglets can be weaned at
Graph 2
which would mean that the current just 21 days whereas in organic farming
Use of medically important antibiotics by the BPC and ionophore sales in poultry, 2012 to 2019 18,19
reliance on routine use in farming would the minimum weaning age is 40 days.
no longer be possible. Other non-
antibiotic coccidiostats are also available, However, pig farmers can also use
350 but without the ionophores controlling zinc oxide in piglet feed after weaning,
coccidiosis through medication would in addition to or as an alternative to
300 become significantly more difficult. antibiotics, in order to control post-
In such a situation, greater efforts weaning diarrhoea. An estimated 70-90%
would need to be made to avoid routine of British piglets receive this additive in
250
coccidiosis problems by improving their feed at weaning time 24. As antibiotic
husbandry and the conditions in which use in the pig industry began to reduce
200 after 2014, use of zinc oxide increased to
poultry are kept, so that ingestion of
chicken droppings is avoided. Avoiding record levels in 2016.
150 routine coccidiosis problems is achieved
in organic farming by regularly moving Unfortunately, using zinc oxide is
100 animals to clean pasture avoiding the environmentally damaging as the
build-up of parasites. substance is not biodegradable and when
50 pig manure is spread on land high levels
ZINC OXIDE USE IN PIGS of zinc can accumulate and harm soil. For
The pig industry also relies on the use this reason, in late 2016 it was revealed
0
of routine medication with feed additives that the EU was likely to ban the use of
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
other than antibiotics, particularly for therapeutic doses of zinc oxide in piglet
weaner piglets. Antibiotic use tends to be feed 24, and the decision to ban such
BPC medically important antibiotics highest in piglets that have recently been treatments in June 2022 was confirmed
weaned as these medicines help control in June 2017 25. It appears that the UK will
Ionophores
post-weaning diarrhoea, an infection also be implementing this ban26, and the
Medically important antibiotics and ionophores which is particularly common when knowledge that zinc oxide needed to be
12 Antibiotic use in organic farming 13
Graph 3
Use of antibiotics and zinc oxide in pig industry (tonnes active ingredient), 2014 to 2018*
3. ORGANIC STANDARDS
500
400
300
200 AND ANTIBIOTIC USE
100 A key principle of organic farming is to prevent disease through good
husbandry, appropriate breeds and good diet, rather than through the
0 routine use of preventative medication.
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Zinc Oxide use in pig farming (tonnes) Antibiotic use in pig farming
In contrast to the situation in the US one course if their lifecycle is less than
where all antibiotic use is banned in one year.
organic livestock, in the UK and the
phased out may have contributed to the * Data on zinc oxide use has been obtained from the Veterinary Medicines EU the restricted use of antibiotics • When treating a sick animal, plant-
use of the substance in piglet feed falling Directorate (VMD) via Freedom of Information requests. Data on antibiotic is permitted in organically certified
use in the pig industry is estimated based on VMD sales data reports and
based medicines, homeopathic
somewhat in 2017 and 2018, see Graph 3. livestock to ensure that animal welfare medicines, trace elements, vitamins
data from the pig industry.
is not undermined and that treatment is and minerals should be used in
There is also evidence that the use of provided where needed. preference to antibiotics or other
zinc oxide can increase the incidence
allopathic medicines. If, however,
of certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria Below we outline the key standards on these alternative treatments are
in pigs, which is another reason why its antibiotic use in British organic farming inappropriate or ineffective, allopathic
long-term use is not sustainable 27. as well as some of the key husbandry
medicines or antibiotics must be used.
practices of organic farming which aim to
In 2016 the pig veterinarian David minimise stress and disease in livestock • In addition to meeting these minimum
Burch, who was also a consultant to the
standards, organic certifiers are
pharmaceutical industry, told Farmers ORGANIC STANDARDS
Weekly that a ban on zinc oxide could permitted to set higher standards for
FOR ANTIBIOTIC USE
hinder efforts to reduce antibiotic use, their licensees.
The EU has set certain minimum
although he also said it would mean that standards that all organically certified
piglets would have to be weaned two The Soil Association has long focused
farmers must meet. These standards are
weeks later 24. on ending inappropriate antibiotic use
still applicable in the UK and are set out
and for many years it led a campaign to
by Commission Regulation No 889/2008.
Unfortunately it seems that many The key restrictions on antibiotic use in end all misuse of antibiotics in farming
pig farmers are not yet preparing for the Regulation are:
29
. As a leading member of the Alliance
later weaning or other husbandry to Save Our Antibiotics it continues to
improvements. A recent survey of pig • Antibiotics cannot be used work towards this end. This campaign
farmers by Farmers Weekly found that preventatively in the absence of disease work has raised the Soil Association’s
60% of them have no plan in place for or surgical intervention. awareness of the importance of certain
when zinc oxide is banned, and most antibiotics in human medicine and of
thought that antibiotic use was likely to • The organic withdrawal period for all the dangers of certain practices in
increase 28. This highlights the need for antibiotic medication is double the farming. As a result, the Soil Association
improvements in husbandry, such as later statutory withdrawal period. During the has established the following higher
weaning, reductions in stocking density withdrawal period, animals cannot be standards which apply to Soil Association
and stress levels, and improvements slaughtered for human consumption licensees 30:
in diets. and milk and eggs cannot be collected
for human consumption. • Fluoroquinolone and modern
cephalosporin antibiotics, which
• Animals cannot be sold as organic if are classified by the World Health
they receive more than three courses of Organization as high-priority critically
antibiotics in 12 months, or more than important antibiotics in human
14 Antibiotic use in organic farming 15
medicine, should not be used except
when no other treatment would be
effective. This is due to evidence that
the overuse of these antibiotics in
livestock has contributed to higher
levels of resistant infections in humans.
• The antibiotic colistin, which is used
as a last-resort in human medicine
for treating certain highly antibiotic-
resistant infections, cannot be used
at all due to the evidence that colistin-
resistant bacteria may transfer from
farm animals to humans.
• Calves on dairy farms cannot be
fed milk taken from cows during
the statutory withdrawal period for
antibiotic treatments. Such “waste”
milk can contain antibiotic residues
and feeding this milk to calves, as often
occurs on dairy farms, can promote
antibiotic resistance in calves.
ORGANIC STANDARDS
AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Organic standards aim to promote good antimicrobials for disease prevention or Use of appropriate, resilient breeds, are weaned early there is an increased
health and welfare so that disease is for the treatment of avoidable outbreaks including slower-growing chickens. The likelihood of post-weaning diarrhoea,
exceptional rather than routine. By aiming of disease” 31. For example, a Belgian breeds used in organic farming should which is then often treated with
to minimise disease, these standards study found that veal calves raised have good disease resistance and be antibiotics 23. Later weaning can greatly
are also likely to reduce the need for intensively indoors had a treatment able to adapt to local conditions. They reduce this problem. Organic rules also
antibiotic treatments. When some of incidence with antibiotics that was about should not have specific health problems set a minimum weaning age for bovines
these approaches are adopted they may 25 times higher than beef cattle reared associated with some breeds used in of 3 months and for sheep of 45 days.
also reduce infections and antibiotic use. extensively 32. intensive systems. In particular, broiler
chickens (those raised for meat) must be A study comparing antibiotic use on
Some key organic standards include: • Lower stocking density. When organic from slower-growing breeds or be raised 227 pig farms in four EU countries
• Access to the outdoors. Organic animals are housed indoors, during until they are at least 81 days. found that at weaning time piglets in
farming is an extensive system of poor weather for example, the stocking
farming and aims to keep animals France, Belgium and Germany received
density (the number of animals per In intensive systems, broiler chickens are
outside and on pasture whenever between 20 to 30 times more antibiotics
area of housing) must be kept at much so fast growing they can be slaughtered
weather and environmental conditions than piglets in Sweden did. This large
lower levels than for intensive farming. when they are just 32-40 days old 33,34.
allow. All herbivore and poultry species difference was likely due to the later
In intensive chicken farming up to 38 kg This extremely fast growth is associated
must have permanent access to pasture average weaning age in the Swedish
of bird can be kept per square meter, with welfare problems and higher
unless circumstances such as weather piglets (35 days) compared with France,
whereas for free-range birds the limit is mortality 35. There is also evidence that
or the health of the animal prevent 27.5 kg/m2 and for organic birds it is 21 Belgium and Germany where the piglets
slower-growing birds have less need
this. Under higher Soil Association kg/m2 for fixed housing and 30 kg/m2 were weaned on average between 22
for antibiotics. In the Netherlands,
standards, this also applies to pigs. for mobile housing. approximately one third of broilers and 25 days 37.
are slower-growing breeds with two
Keeping animals on pasture will Higher stocking densities can limit • Appropriate diets. Diets for organically
thirds being fast-growing and industry
often help reduce disease incidence natural behaviour, promote stress and data shows that the fast-growing birds farmed animals should contain
in comparison to intensive, indoor allow disease to spread more easily, and received about six times more antibiotics sufficient roughage. Organic rules
systems. According to the European the increased risk of wet litter can lead per bird than the slower-growing birds in require that pigs’ and poultry’s daily
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the to footpad dermatitis and higher levels 2019 36. rations contain some roughage. The
European Medicines Agency (EMA) “The of harmful ammonia concentrations diets for herbivores must be based
stress associated with intensive, indoor, in chicken housing, which all impact • Later weaning. Organically farmed on maximum use of pasture. At least
large scale production may lead to an on welfare. According to the EMA piglets cannot be weaned before they 60% of the dry matter of daily rations
increased risk of livestock contracting and EFSA, higher stocking densities are at least 40 days old, whereas those for herbivores must be roughage. High
disease” and that these kind of farming have been associated with increased that are non-organically farmed can levels of grains in the diets of cattle
practices can mean that “much preventative use of antibiotics due to the be weaned at just 21 days. Weaning is can cause acidosis which can require
reliance is placed on the routine use of expectation of increased disease 31. very stressful for piglets and when they antibiotic treatment.
16 Antibiotic use in organic farming 17
Graph 4
Use of antibiotics (microgramme of active ingredient per kg of meat produced) on British organic poultry
4. ANTIBIOTIC USE IN
(1 to 7) and pig (14-18) farms compared with British non-organic poultry (8-13) and pig (19-25) farms [39]
140
ORGANIC FARMING 120
Combined Total
Active Drug (micg/kg lwt)
100
COMPARED WITH 80
60
NON-ORGANIC FARMING 40
20
Since late 1990s, the government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate 0
(VMD) has collected data on the sales of veterinary antibiotics from 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
pharmaceutical companies, which it has published in annual reports 38. Farm ID
Sales data provides a good idea of the collecting and publishing data on the use The much lower levels of antibiotic use of the lactation was much more common
scale of farm antibiotic use and of the in the pig sector, which covered 95% of on the organic farms were reflected in in non-organic farms. In total 85% of
trends. However, because many antibiotic the industry in 2019 7. the lower levels of resistance. The E. non-organic farms used them on all of
products are sold for use in more than coli taken from the poultry farms were their cows at drying off whereas this was
one species, and since pharmaceutical LIMITED DATA FOR ORGANIC FARMING tested for their resistance to ten different the case for just 5% of organic farms.
companies are not always sure how Unfortunately, while the pig and poultry antibiotics. The median number of Since this study was carried out, efforts
the antibiotics are being used, a full industries now have much more precise
antibiotics to which the E. coli from the have been made in both organic and
breakdown of use by species has not information on antibiotic usage on
organic poultry farms were resistant was non-organic farming to reduce the use of
been possible from this data. individual farms, they only publish a
just one, whereas for the non-organic antibiotic dry-cow therapy 6,42.
single overall figure each year and do not
poultry farms it was five.
Furthermore, the VMD reports provide no attempt to provide any estimate of use by
ANTIBIOTIC USE ON SOIL ASSOCIATION
information on antibiotic use in different farming system.
Research funded by the Scottish CERTIFIED FARMS
farming systems, such as intensive, free-
Executive published in 2000 also found Because of the very limited data publicly
range, pasture-fed or organic. As a result there is still a lack of
much lower levels of resistance in available on antibiotic use on organic
information on antibiotic use in less
The VMD data has shown that antibiotic intensive farming systems. Up until organic pigs than in non-organic pigs. farms, the Soil Association decided
use has generally been highest in pigs now, the only information available on On intensive farms, it was found that to carry out data collection from its
and poultry, the two most intensively antibiotic use on organic farms in the UK resistance in E. coli was ‘widespread’, licensees, and the Alliance to Save Our
farmed species in the UK. The VMD used has been from a Defra study published in with resistance to tetracycline being Antibiotics supported this work.
to provide an estimated breakdown of 2006. This study examined antibiotic use particularly high, at ‘up to 100% in pigs
usage between these two species based on seven organic poultry farms and five prior to slaughter’. In contrast, they found The Soil Association distributed consent
on its sales data. organic pig farms with six non-organic that on small organic pig farms there forms to their licensees, asking for their
poultry farms and seven non-organic were much lower levels of carriage of permission for their vet to provide details
However, from 2012 onwards the pig farms. It found much lower levels resistant E. coli (0-10%) 40. However, this of all antibiotics sold or prescribed
British Poultry Council (BPC) has been of antibiotic use on the organic farms: study did not include any information on between 1/6/18 and 31/5/19. Data on
voluntarily collecting its own usage data whereas all the non-organic farms actual antibiotic use. livestock numbers was also requested.
from its members and has reported used antibiotics, six of the seven organic The data was then processed by The
this data annually 18. BPC members poultry farms and two of the five organic For dairy farming the only UK study to George Farm Vets practice who also
represent about 90% of the poultry meat pig farms did not use antibiotics at all compare antibiotic use on organic and produced a report on the findings 43.
sector (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese). during the entire two-year study, see non-organic farms was a Defra study
In addition, since 2015 the Agriculture Graph 4 39. published in 2012 41. It did not provide an A total of 211 farms successfully
and Horticultural Development Board overall usage figure, but found that the contributed data. 57 farms reported
Pork (AHDB Pork) has been voluntarily use of dry-cow antibiotic tubes at the end having dairy cattle, 119 had beef cattle,
18 Antibiotic use in organic farming 1993 had sheep, 18 had pigs, 14 had 50 livestock population of a beef farm, a
or more laying hens, 6 had 40 or more different figure is obtained for antibiotic national average figures, there were pig production compared with non-
broilers and 1 had turkeys. More farms use per livestock unit. This second some large differences in usage between organic pig production47.
gave consent, but in some cases it was method has been included in brackets different farms within one sector.
not possible to obtain the necessary after the figure using the PCU in Table 2. It is worth noting that in Denmark, unlike
information from their vets, or there were In common with datasets referenced by in the UK, preventative mass medication
errors in the consent forms. Egg-laying hens also have no PCU the industry group RUMA 45, the median with antibiotics is not permitted by law in
weight, so the antibiotic-usage data for figure tends to be much lower than the any type of farming system. This partly
To make the results comparable, the egg layers is given in terms of doses of mean. In both organic and non-organic explains why the national average for
data has been presented in terms of antibiotic per bird days. sectors, a small number of heavy users antibiotic use in Danish pigs is 2.7 times
milligrams of active ingredient per kg of antibiotics are noticeable and they lower than in the UK (see Table 1,
of “population correction unit” (PCU). The results comparing antibiotic use by push up the mean figure considerably. Chapter 2).
The PCU is a technical livestock unit Soil Association farmers with national The highest users in dairy, beef, sheep
introduced by the EU estimating the averages are in Table 2 below. and pigs have a small number of animals Despite antibiotic use in Danish pigs
average weight of an animal at relative to their peers (20 cows, 11 beef generally being lower than in the UK and
treatment time. As Table 2 shows, the average calves, 8 sheep and 8 breeding pigs in most European countries, the data
antibiotic-use level in this sample of Soil respectively) and are not particularly
The PCU, however, has a number of Association licensees is well below the representative. However, there are
peculiarities, including the fact while live national averages in each species, despite similar-sized enterprises with zero Table 3
adult dairy cows have a PCU of 425 kg, the nearly 50% reduction in the national antibiotic use, and many of the other Antibiotic use in organic and non-organic pigs in Denmark in 2013
only slaughtered animals count towards usage in the past few years. The sample heavy users are large or medium-sized (number of doses per 1,000 animal days)
the PCU of a beef farm so that live adult is a “convenience sample” of farmers, commercial farms.
beef cows have zero PCU. If all adult cows meaning that it cannot necessarily be
on beef farms produce one calf per year, taken to be fully representative of all Soil The finding that some farms are using
this point is perhaps not important as it Association farmers since the sample considerably more antibiotics than Organic Non-organic Non-organic/
applies similarly to all beef farms, but for was not randomly selected but simply others shows that, despite the already organic ratio
some organic herds, for example those includes data from farms that consented low average use being achieved, there
engaging in conservation grazing, there to take part. remains room for further reductions in Sows and piglets 4.1 23.5 5.7
can be substantially more adult cows on use in organic farming.
a farm than calves. In such cases using Usage is particularly low for pigs, poultry
Weaner piglets 4.6 94.4 20.5
the PCU will underestimate the real size and sheep, although it is important to The large differences between the
of the livestock population and therefore note the very small sample sizes for pigs organic and non-organic use levels show
overestimate the use of antibiotics per and poultry which make the data less Slaughter pigs 5.1 18 3.5
**National averages that further large reductions in use in
livestock unit. reliable. It is however worth noting that for all species except non-organic farming remain achievable
the particularly low usage in pigs and sheep are for 2019 Overall 4.8 51 10.6
and that organic farming is a model from
For this reason it was thought reasonable broilers is consistent with the findings of and are taken from
which non-organic farmers can learn.
the VMD’s VARSS
to assign a PCU weight to older live the Defra study referred to above.
report 6. For sheep it
animals on beef farms when calculating is taken from a 2017 To further examine the reasons for the published by the Danish government
the size of the livestock population. Using Though average use of antibiotics across survey of 152 sheep- low antibiotic use in organic farming showed that antibiotic use in organic
this second method for calculating the this dataset is significantly lower than only flocks 44. and the husbandry practices which systems was ten times lower per animal,
help maintain good health, qualitative see Table 3. At weaning time, when
interviews were carried out with some antibiotic use is by far the highest in
licensees and the findings are presented intensive systems, it was 20 times lower.
Table 2
in Chapter 4.
Antibiotic use on organic farms certified by the Soil Association compared with non-organic national
In a very recent study Danish scientists
averages by species (mg of active ingredient per kg of PCU and doses per bird days for layers)
ANTIBIOTIC USE IN have again used the national database to
DANISH ORGANIC LIVESTOCK compare antibiotic use in Danish organic
Since 2000, the Danish Integrated pigs with use in free-range non-organic
Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring pigs and indoor non-organic (mainly
and Research Programme (DANMAP) intensive) pigs 48. While their study
Overall Dairy Beef Sheep Pigs Broilers Turkeys Layers has collected antibiotic-usage data from does not include an overall figure, they
every farm in Denmark. National data by also found much lower antibiotic use in
National average** 31 22.5 24.4 16.7 110 17 42 0.68 species is published in annual reports organic pigs at all stages of their lives.
but unfortunately no information in these Use in sows and piglets (before weaning)
reports is given on antibiotic use by and in weaning piglets was 15 times
Soil Association 7.46 10.66 7.22 3.33 1.42 2.95 0 0 farming system 46. higher in indoor pigs than in organic pigs
average (2.95) and use in slaughter pigs was nearly
However, in 2014, in response to 4 times higher, see Table 4. This study
Soil Association 6.98 3.97 2.04 0.19 0 0 0 a question in Danish Parliament, also included data on antibiotic use in
farm median (1.64) the Danish government did publish non-organic free-range pigs and found
information on antibiotic use in organic significantly lower levels than in indoor
20 Antibiotic use in organic farming 21Table 4
Antibiotic use in organic, non-organic free-range and indoor (intensive) pigs in Denmark in 2016-2018
(number of doses per 1000 animal days) [48]
Organic Free-range non- Indoor (intensive) Indoor/organic
organic ratio
Sows and piglets 1.1 4 16.5 15
Weaner piglets 4.8 33.7 72 15
Slaughter pigs 2.88 8.2 10.5 3.75
pigs, but still significantly higher than regulations on antibiotic use. They said:
in organic pigs. All organic and higher-
welfare pig farms with a minimum “From our findings, it seems logical to
number of pigs were included in the suspect, that not only strict regulations
study and their usage was compared with on antibiotic usage but also improved
usage on a random sample of 300 indoor health related to conditions like being
pig farms. born outdoor[s], higher weaning age and
lower stocking density have an effect
The much lower use of antibiotics in on antibiotic usage. Different conditions
organic weaner piglets is likely to be with respect to human supervision and
at least partly due to the much later possibilities for intervention could also
weaning that occurs in organic farming. play a role, as well as differences in
Organic piglets can only be weaned at 40 treatment threshold.”
days, whereas the intensive piglets can be
weaned at 21 days and those raised in the They also indicated that lessons could be
Danish free-range system can be weaned learned from the low levels of antibiotic If from the two above Danish organic Despite the relatively low use in Danish
at 30 days. However, in Denmark all three use in higher-welfare systems saying: datasets we estimate that antibiotic use dairy farming, use in the non-organic
systems also currently use zinc oxide and in Danish organic pigs is about 10 times dairy cows was 2.8 to 3.4 times higher
no statistically significant differences in “The lower level of antibiotic usage in lower than the national average, then it than in organic dairy cows. On the
the use of this feed additive were found welfare-label systems indicates that a appears that use in Danish organic pig other hand use in the calves was only
between the systems. significant reduction in antibiotic use in farming is about 4–5 mg/kg. This is of the 20% higher on the non-organic farms
pig production would require housing same order of magnitude as the 1.42 mg/ compared with the organic farms.
Other husbandry factors which and management changes or regulatory kg found in the survey of Soil Association
distinguish the “higher-welfare” organic changes in the conventional indoor certified pigs. The authors of the study suggested that
and free-range systems from the indoor system.” non-organic farming could learn from
system in Denmark include the fact that Another Danish study, published last year, organic farming, saying: “The significantly
piglets are born outdoors and continue The study also found large variations used the national data on antibiotic use to lower level of antibiotic use for cows
to have outdoor access during their between different farms in each of compare organic and non-organic dairy in organic dairy herds could imply that
growing and finishing periods. When kept the three systems. This is consistent farming 49. It found that in both types of restrictions on antibiotic usage could be
indoors these higher-welfare systems with what has been found in the UK, systems most antibiotic use was in adult used as a tool for reducing antibiotic use
also must provide bedding whereas and shows that even though use is dairy cows rather than in the calves and in other production systems.”
intensively farmed pigs are usually kept much lower in organic farming, further that in dairy cows 70–75% of treatments
on fully slatted floors. There is also reductions in use remain possible for were for udder infections.
a requirement for more room per pig higher organic users.
indoors (0.65 m2 per pig in intensive The study found that antibiotic use
farming, 1.2 m2 in free-range and 2.3 m2 While neither of the above Danish on Danish dairy farms was low by
in organic). comparisons between organic and non- international standards but significant
organic pigs provided antibiotic-use data differences in antibiotic use between
The scientists concluded that the better in terms of milligrams of active ingredient farms was found for both types of
conditions in which the organic and per kg of PCU, it is worth noting that farming systems, suggesting that further
free-range pigs are kept was likely to be national average for antibiotic use in reductions in use were possible.
an important factor in the lower levels Danish pigs in 2019 was about 41 mg/kg
of antibiotic use alongside the stricter [46] whereas in the UK it was 110 mg/kg.
22 Antibiotic use in organic farming 235. INTERVIEWS
OF SOIL ASSOCIATION
PRODUCERS
ON THEIR ATTITUDES
TO ANTIBIOTIC USE
The Soil Association antibiotic data-collection project detailed in
Chapter 3 found that Soil Association livestock producers have particularly
low levels of use compared with national non-organic averages.
However, within this dataset there was respectively. Poultry farmers were not Low users in particular needed to work • A low stocking rate
considerable variation which could interviewed as all but one in the Soil with a vet who they believed shared their • Good stockmanship
not be attributed to farm size. The Soil Association survey had zero use. views on livestock management and • Good nutrition
Association and the Alliance to Save Our medicines use. All farmers interviewed • A low-stress environment
Antibiotics decided to conduct telephone Since the farmers being interviewed felt than there was at least one such • Breeding specifically for health traits
interviews with producers who were had all provided data on their antibiotic person working for their local practice more than production
at the top and the bottom end of the use, their responses may not be fully although a repeated comment was that • Later weaning of piglets and avoiding
antibiotic-use range to see if attitude and representative of all British organic younger vets embraced better the need mixing of groups
knowledge of the owner or stock keeper farmers, but they nevertheless provide for reduced antibiotic use. • Improving cow tracks to avoid foot
with regard to medicines or aspects of some helpful detail and some key themes problems
stockmanship or husbandry explained the emerged. Some of these findings regarding the • Culling of repeatedly lame cows
variation. key roles that veterinarians can play in or those with a history of multiple
IMPORTANCE OF VETERINARIANS achieving responsible antibiotic use agree treatments
The interviews were carried out by ADVICE with previous studies of non-organic • Investment in housing.
The George Farm Vets practice in All farmers interviewed were happy with farmers 51,52,53.
their vets who were overwhelmingly Dairy farmers used more alternative
September and October 2020 and
the most commonly cited and trusted METHODS USED TO MINIMISE DISEASE treatments to antibiotics than beef and
a report summarising the findings
source for information and advice around AND ANTIBIOTIC USE sheep farmers. Many dairy farmers
was published 50.
medicines use. Across all sectors Across all sectors, cleanliness was used anti-inflammatory or pain-relief
farmers liked to learn about medicines considered most important husbandry medication, as did both the pig farmers.
The smallest producers were excluded
directly from their vet. factor for maintaining good animal health For mastitis, massage with liniment was
but a wide range in producer size was
and low antibiotic use. Many considered a common first-line treatment among
still retained in the farms chosen for
The one-to-one relationship with a the best way to achieve this was to both high and low users. Vaccination,
interview, with dairy farms ranging minimise the housed period and to move trace elements, homeopathy and
from 35 to 900 cows, beef farms which trusted veterinary adviser was deemed
very important by high and low users, livestock as frequently as possible to disinfection of high-traffic areas
sold or slaughtered between 20 and 329 fresh ground. were also used by farmers in the
animals in the year and sheep farms and some sheep and beef farmers felt
different sectors.
ranging from 64 to 2166 breeding ewes. this was something they missed out on
Other key husbandry factors
Two commercial-sized pig farms were compared with dairy farms.
mentioned included:
interviewed with 250 and 350 sows
24 Antibiotic use in organic farming 25CONCLUSION
On 28 January 2022 the EU will ban all routine farm antibiotic use,
including all preventative group treatments [13]. This is a major step
forward for the regulation of antibiotics in Europe, far more important
than the more symbolic ban on antibiotic growth promoters in 2006,
and it will mean that a key organic standard on antibiotic use will now
apply to all EU livestock farming.
Unfortunately, when the UK was still in the many of these farmers said that they
EU the government argued against ending thought that husbandry and welfare
COULD SOIL ASSOCIATION PRODUCERS meat, dairy and eggs must be produced all preventative group treatments with factors such as keeping animals outdoors
REDUCE THEIR ANTIBIOTIC USE EVEN without any antibiotic use. So some milk antibiotics 55, and now that the UK has left as much as possible, rotating pasture,
FURTHER? contracts for Omsco, the UK’s largest the EU the government has not committed low stocking rates, low levels of stress,
All farmers felt that they were very organic dairy cooperative, are now PWAB to implementing the ban. Nevertheless, breeding for health traits instead of just
low users of antibiotics, irrespective of so that the milk qualifies for export to the British farming industry has taken productivity, good nutrition and late
whether the benchmarking data showed those countries. voluntary action to reduce, or in the case weaning of piglets, were contributing to
they were high or low users in the period of the poultry industry, to end preventative good animal health and the avoidance of
reviewed. This was an interesting and Farmers who had been supplying milk group treatments. These moves are medication.
unexpected finding, as all had received a on a PWAB contract for some time felt already having an effect on farm antibiotic
copy of the results of the benchmarking confident that reducing antibiotic use use which has fallen significantly in both These results demonstrate that an
study with their position in the range to almost nil had not had a detrimental the UK and the EU 6,56. organic approach represents an existing
identified. Few thought they could impact on disease rates or welfare. All framework for low usage and a potential
significantly reduce their usage further, stated that antibiotics were used when However, the data presented in this report resource for sharing best practice for
except through the husbandry practices necessary for welfare, but this was shows that much lower levels of use are very low antibiotic use more widely. If this
described above. limited to cases of foot foul which had being achieved in organic farming. This can catch the interest of vets, particularly
not responded to topical treatment or suggests that focusing only on antibiotics those coming into the industry, then it
A survey of non-organic beef and sheep for the occasional caesarean section policies and regulations, with insufficient improves the chances of farmers and
farmers also found that most thought or difficult calving. Those who had attention being given to husbandry factors vets with an interest in low antibiotic
that their use was below average and did recently converted to a PWAB contract, contributing to disease, will not deliver the use developing mutually beneficial
not need to be reduced further 54. including one who had been a high user, very low levels of antibiotic use that are relationships.
were surprised not to encounter more needed.
However, it was noticeable that some Soil problems, citing culling of cows with The government should provide financial
Association high users had already taken a history of multiple treatments and a In Denmark, preventative group support for organic farming and other
multiple actions since the review period reduction of stocking rate as important treatments with antibiotics are already whole-farm systems which achieve
(which ended in May 2019) and reduced to them. The experience of those farms illegal, and this partly explains why high levels of animal health and welfare
usage significantly. Examples were sheep undergoing a conversion to a PWAB antibiotic use in Danish pigs is at less and low levels of antibiotic use. Defra’s
farms which implemented a tighter contract in learning to deal with mastitis than half the UK level. However, data in Environment Land Management Scheme
culling policy which had a big impact without antibiotics is potentially very Chapter 3 shows that this is still about 10 (ELMS) and Animal Health and Welfare
on lameness and beef herds where beneficial to those who are not on such times higher than usage in Danish organic Pathway will be based on the principle
outwintering or a minimal housed period a strict contract but who wish to reduce pigs. Most antibiotic use in the Danish pig of “public money for public goods”, but
had dramatically reduced pneumonia their use of antibiotics in this area. industry is still linked to diseases caused recognition and financial support should
incidence. by intensive-farming practices. be given to organic farming which has
These experiences suggest that, for high levels of animal health and welfare
Particularly interesting were cases several sectors, there is still room The new data on antibiotic usage from the and, by achieving particularly low levels
of dairy farmers that had moved to a for reducing antibiotic use in organic convenience survey of Soil Association of antibiotic use through good husbandry,
“produced without antibiotics” (PWAB) farming, and even more so in non- producers also shows that the organic helps reduce the spread of antibiotic
system. In some countries, such as the organic farming. approach is achieving very low levels of resistance.
US, in order to be certified as organic antibiotic use in the UK. In interviews
26 Antibiotic use in organic farming 27You can also read
