PRRSV-1 Stabilization Programs in French Farrow-to-Finish Farms: A Way to Reduce Antibiotic Usage

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study reports an investigation into 19 French farrow-to-finish farms that successfully implemented the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus type 1 (PRRSV-1) stabilization protocol between 2007 and 2019. One year before (P1) and one year after (P2) the introduction of this protocol, the antibiotic consumptions (expressed in mg/PCU and ALEA) were compared for each farm. The difference between P1 and P2 was also calculated in percentages. The transition from P1 to P2 revealed that the higher the consumption levels were in P1, the greater the antibiotic reduction in P2. These results emphasize how stability against PRRSV-1 seems to reduce antibiotic usage, particularly in farms with a high level of consumption. ABSTRACT: Infection with the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus type 1 (PRRSV-1) has serious economic consequences for the pig industry. Swine practitioners and other agricultural advisors often describe an increase in antibiotic use when PRRSV-1 is circulating. Our objective was to assess the impact of PRRSV-1 stabilization programs on reducing antibiotic use in 19 French farrow-to-finish farms that successfully implemented such a protocol between 2007 and 2019. For each farm, we compared the global antibiotic consumption, including all physiological stages (expressed in mg/PCU and ALEA) one year before (P1) and one year after (P2) the implementation of the protocol, and the change between P1 and P2 was calculated in percentages. The data were also analyzed by level of consumption. We showed that antibiotic use decreased significantly between P1 and P2 if expressed in mg/PCU and showed a decreased tendency in terms of exposure (ALEA) after PRRSV-1 stabilization. Concerning the change from P1 to P2, depending on the level of consumption in P1, our results showed that the higher the consumption levels were in P1, the greater the antibiotic reduction in P2. This study highlights the ability of a stabilization protocol against PRRSV-1 to reduce antibiotic use, especially on farms that have high consumption rates. These hopeful results show that further investigations about the relationship between PRRSV-1 and antibiotic usage could be beneficial.