Current antimicrobial use in farm animals in the Republic of Ireland

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Animal Health Surveillance
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to human and animal health.
• Effective surveillance of antimicrobial use in animal agriculture is crucial for combating AMR.
• Understanding current antimicrobial usage patterns in livestock is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available data on antimicrobial use in farmed animals in the Republic of Ireland.
• To identify knowledge gaps in antimicrobial usage across different livestock sectors.
• To inform future data collection strategies and policy development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for published data on antimicrobial use in Irish livestock.
• Identification of ongoing research through author networks and agricultural funding body databases.
• Analysis of data availability and quality across pig, poultry, dairy, beef, and sheep sectors.

Main Results:

• Progress in data collection noted for intensive sectors like pigs and poultry.
• Significant knowledge gaps identified in less intensive sectors, including dairy, beef, and sheep.
• Current surveillance studies provide a snapshot of antimicrobial use in the Republic of Ireland.

Conclusions:

• Varying data quality across sectors necessitates harmonized data collection methods.
• Future development of a mandatory antimicrobial data collection system is required for all food-producing animals.
• Further research is needed to fill knowledge gaps and provide a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial use in Irish farm animals.