Case study: Reduction of antibiotic use in a Dutch finishing farm after implementation of oral Ileitis

In the Netherlands antibiotic use in human health care and in food-producing animals is a concern for the Dutch society and the Dutch government. The use of antibiotics is controlled by law and the consequence is a strict monitoring in the diagnostics of diseases including laboratory tests to confirm disease and treatments. The message of the Dutch government is simple: use less antibiotics in animals. In this survey, we demonstrate how in a finishing farm the implementation of oral vaccination against ileitis reduced antibiotic use.

A finishing farm, 1600 places, high standards of biosecurity, had a history of acute mortality in pigs close to slaughter, diagnosed as Porcine Hemorrhagic Enteritis (PHE).

The production results (feed conversion ratio and average daily gain) were at least equal to comparable finishing units without clinical ileitis. When mortality caused by PHE first started, antibiotics (tylosine) were used. This was with good effect; mortality dropped. The continuous use of antibiotics resulted in a high DDD (Defined Daily Dosage ), well above the described goals used in the Netherlands. Oral ileitis vaccination (Enterisol Ileitis®) at one week after arrival was implemented to prevent the impact of mortality caused by PHE and to reduce antibiotics necessary to control the disease.

The average production results in the year before vaccination compared to the results in 18 months of vaccinated pigs showed no change in Average Daily Gain, in Feeding Conversion Rate and in Mortality. At the same time the use of tylosine, antibiotic of choice to control ileitis, decreased from 30.3 KG per year to an average of 14 KG per year. After implementation of vaccination less compartments had to be treated with tylosine, which helped to the reduction of antibiotic use.

This survey shows a farm suffering from mortality caused by PHE. The use of antibiotics at this farm was, according to Dutch standards, too high. The effect of the antibiotics was sufficient, but offered no sustainable solution. Starting oral ileitis vaccination resulted in an average 46% reduction of tylosine (kg active matter) use. The mortality didn’t change significantly. The achieved results have to be addressed to be a team effort: farmer, feed adviser and veterinarians each had an important role.

Our conclusion is that oral ileitis vaccination can be a helpful tool in reducing the use of antibiotics and is therefore a support in sustainable pig production.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.