July 3, 2012

Dutch agriculture sector lowers usage of antibiotics

The employment of antibiotics by the agriculture sector in the Netherlands has decreased significantly in recent years, exceeding objectives set by the government while drug sales have suffered a decline of 32% from 2009 to 2011.

The total sales of antibiotics in the Netherlands dropped nearly 32%, from 495 tonnes to 338 tonnes during the period 2009-2011, according to new data relating to the veterinary use of antibiotics published by LEI Wageningen UR. 

This far exceeds the policy objective for 2011 set by the Dutch government, which was set at a 20% reduction in antibiotic use compared with 2009. Survey data on antibiotic use per animal species indicate a decrease in all five livestock sectors examined in 2011.

In 2011, all animal production sectors in the Netherlands showed a decrease in antibiotic use; sow/piglet farms: annual variation, decrease in 2010 and 2011; fattening pig farms: increase until 2008, decrease from 2009 to 2011; broiler farms: increase until 2009, decrease in 2010 and 2011; veal calf farms: decrease from 2007 to 2011; dairy farms: annual variation, decrease in 2011.