4716: Development and daily management of an explicit non-antimicrobial-use policy in 12 Danish organic dairy herds

Vaarst, Mette; Bennedsgaard, Torben Werner; Klaas, Ilka; Nissen, Thorkild Bülow; Thamsborg, Stig Milan and Østergaard, Søren (2005) Development and daily management of an explicit non-antimicrobial-use policy in 12 Danish organic dairy herds. Working Paper, Dept Animal health, Welfare and Nutrition, Danish Institute of Agricultural Science.

Summary

The promotion of animal health and wellbeing on the individual animal level and farm level is an important goal in organic farming. At the same time, chemical products are prohibited in all areas of the organic farm. From an animal welfare point of view, no animals must suffer, and therefore veterinary medical drugs are allowed, despite the fact that they often can be regarded as ‘artificial’ or ‘chemical products’. From a human consumption and health point of view, improved animal welfare is expected in organic farms compared to conventional herds. Consumers expect food products of high quality that are produced without risk for bacteria or medicine residuals, which may either cause infection or may transfer antimicrobial resistance. We face a potential conflict here, because animal welfare can be used as argument for using ‘chemical inputs’ and as argument for health promotion efforts that should eliminate the need for medicine.
In this article, we present and discuss interviews of 12 Danish organic dairy farmers all claiming that minimised or no antibiotic medicine use is an explicit goal. The farmers are all on different ‘levels’ with regard to lower or phase out antibiotic treatment. We discuss the concept of a non-antibiotic treatment strategy for organic herds under Danish conditions based on these farmers’ experiences and viewpoints. An explicit non-antibiotic treatment strategy is primarily based on a long-term effort to improve the herd health status, and secondly on an effort to find alternative treatments for diseased animals. The farmers’ perception of disease changed from ‘being something that should be treated’ to become a disturbing break in a daily rhythm. The change towards a non-antibiotic strategy was gradual and stepwise and could not be forced through. All farmers in this study would like to keep the possibility to use antibiotics in emergency cases. Improved hygiene, outdoor access, use of nursing cows and blinding of chronic mastitis quarters were the main alternatives for developing a non-antimicrobial-use strategy in the herd.

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