Feasibility study of veterinary antibiotic consumption in Germany--comparison of ADDs and UDDs by animal production type, antimicrobial class and indication.

Background: Within a feasibility study the use of antibiotics in pigs and cattle was determined in 24 veterinary practices in Lower Saxony and on 66 farms in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Focus was laid on the comparison of the Used Daily Doses (UDD) (dose per animal and day prescribed by the veterinarians) with the Defined Animal Daily Doses (ADD) (dose per animal and day calculated by means of recommended dosages and estimated live weights).

Results: For piglets and calves most of the UDD (50% and 46% of nUDD, respectively) were above the ADD (i.

[Monitoring of antibiotic consumption in pigs on agricultural farms].

The use of antibiotics in the course of one year (1 September, 2006 until - 31 August, 2007) was evaluated in 23 pig farms housing about 18,000 animals in one district in Northrhine-Westfalia. The veterinary application and dispensary documents (section13TAHAV) as well as respecting farmers' documents (ANTHV) served as data sources. Based on this data the amount of the used free substances, the number of treatment units as well as the therapy frequency were evaluated for each age group.

[Monitoring of antibiotic consumption in cattle on agricultural farms].

47 cattle farms with a total of 6500 cattle in one district of Northrhine-Westfalia took part in a study on the use of antibiotic substances on a voluntary basis. The veterinary application and dispensary documents (section 13 TAHAV) as well as respecting farmers' documents (ANTHV) served as data sources. All consumption data of a one-year-period (1 September, 2006 until 31 August, 2007) were entered into a central database.

[Compilation of antibiotic use in farm animals via veterinary surgeries].

A feasibility study with 20 voluntarily participating veterinary surgeries was carried out in order to test, if the consumption of antibiotics in livestock can be determined systematically. Information about the statutory documents on the application of drugs of the participating surgeries were entered in a central database and analysed systematically. Surgeries that treat only livestock used significantly more antibiotics (number of treatment units per veterinarian) per veterinarian than surgeries that treat also small animals.

Monitoring of antibiotic consumption in livestock: a German feasibility study.

Every application of antibacterial drugs in veterinary medicine may encourage selection for resistant bacteria. In Germany no valid data are available which would be suitable for a species specific estimation of drug consumption especially regarding food producing animals. Therefore, a representative monitoring of consumption of antibacterial drugs in food producing animals should be implemented.