511 Managing antibiotics use: case the Netherlands.

Antibiotics use in animals has become part of societal discussion. Initial national goal was to reduce use by 50% in 2013 compared to 2009. Herd health and treatment plans were introduced. From 2012 on, 3/4 generation drugs (3/4GE) are only allowed in exceptional cases. To gain insight, antibiotic use and herd/farmer factors were examined on 94 dairy farms during 2005–2012. Level of use (in no. of daily dosages-ADDD) was rising in period 2005–2007, followed by a period of growing societal interest in animal antibiotic use resulting in a reduction in use from 2010/11 on. On average, 68% was applied to the udder: mastitis 25% and dry-cow therapy 43%; other drugs tended to decrease the most, while farmers were reluctant to lower use of dry-cow therapy tubes. Use of 3/4GE minimized from 18% of ADDD in period 2005–2010 to 1% in 2012. The drop in use varied between 3 groups of farmers studied of which one was guided for some years. In recent years antibiotic use stabilised at a relatively low level. A logistic function fitted to the adaptation process. Especially use for dry cow therapy could be well explained by health status, cell count and calving interval. The “more successful” farmers seemed to use somewhat more antibiotics than the other colleagues, and were also able to adapt more easily to the new conditions. Since 2012, all farms are monitored by Veterinary Medicines Authority. Benchmark thresholds are used to assess whether a livestock farm falls within the target, signalling or action zone Nationally, a 64% reduction was achieved through 2016: highest use and reductions in broiler (72%) and pig sector (57%); high use and lowest reduction in veal sector (38%); 48% reduction in dairy sector. Insight in variation in application use by veterinarians will also be presented.