Antimicrobial use and stewardship practices on Australian beef feedlots

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial stewardship in livestock is crucial for combating resistance.
• Detailed data on antimicrobial use in Australian beef feedlots is limited.
• Understanding usage patterns informs effective stewardship programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate antimicrobial use in the Australian beef feedlot sector.
• To identify common antimicrobial agents, their purposes, and targeted diseases.
• To assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial use and drug selection.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing self-administered questionnaires.
• Survey distributed to beef feedlot operators across Australia.
• Data collected on antimicrobial agents, treatment percentages, usage purposes, and targeted conditions.

Main Results:

• Monensin and virginiamycin were the most common in-feed antimicrobials; used primarily for gastrointestinal diseases.
• Antimicrobials were used for growth promotion by 42.1% of respondents, mainly ionophores.
• Short-acting penicillin, oxytetracycline, and tulathromycin were common injectable agents for respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial use in the surveyed beef feedlots was generally appropriate for the indicated purposes.
• There was a notable preference for antimicrobials with low importance in human medicine.
• Findings provide a strong basis for implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in the sector.