May 31, 2007

Dutch livestock farmers continue antibiotic use amid ban

Dutch poultry, pig and veal calf farmers still use antimicrobial growth promoters despite the Europe-wide ban, according to the Institute for Disease control (CIDC) in Lelystad, the Netherlands.

The increasing resistance of bacteria against common antibiotics has been the reason why preventive use of antibiotics has been banned since January 2006, according to Fred van Zijderveld of the CIDC.

Van Zijderveld said year 2005 has a notable increase of antibiotics in livestock farms and the level of use was most likely similar in 2006 based on the investigations by CIDC.