Determining the Characteristics of Farms That Raise Pigs without Antibiotics

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Reduced and responsible antimicrobial use leads to a lower risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. One way to achieve this is to raise animals without antibiotics (RWA). This study described the criteria for a Belgian RWA program for pigs and evaluated whether farms could achieve and maintain this status. The study also identified possible differences between RWA and non-RWA farms. For this purpose, 28 farms were visited three times for the following reasons: (1) data collection, (2) farm-specific coaching, and (3) evaluation. Antimicrobial use, biosecurity, and farm characteristics were determined. The status of the farms, i.e., (non-)RWA, varied over time, and the distribution of RWA vs. non-RWA farms, was 10–18, 13–15, and 12–16 before the intervention, after coaching, and after one year, respectively. There were no significant differences in biosecurity status between RWA and non-RWA farms, but biosecurity improved in all farms throughout the study. RWA farms were smaller (median 200 sows) compared to non-RWA farms (median 350 sows). This study showed that farmers could achieve and maintain the RWA status through farm-specific coaching related to prudent AMU and improved biosecurity. ABSTRACT: Reduced and responsible antimicrobial use leads to a lower risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) is a certification label that is recognized in only a few countries, and it is often unclear what the specific criteria and characteristics of RWA farms are. The objectives of this study were to describe the criteria for a Belgian RWA program; to coach farms towards reduced antimicrobial usage (AMU); to assess if it was possible to obtain and maintain the RWA status; and to determine differences between RWA and conventional pig farms. Pig farms (n = 28) were visited three times for the following reasons: (1) data collection, (2) farm-specific coaching (2 months later), and (3) evaluation (7 months later). AMU was followed from before the start of the study up to one year after the last visit. AMU, biosecurity (Biocheck.UGent(TM)), and farm characteristics of (non-)RWA farms were compared. RWA was defined as no antibiotics from birth until slaughter. Pigs requiring individual treatment received a special ear tag and were excluded from the program. The status of the farms varied over time, and the distribution of RWA vs. non-RWA was 10–18, 13–15, and 12–16, before intervention, after coaching, and after one year, respectively. For the non-RWA farms, there was a reduction in AMU of 61%, 38%, and 23%, for the suckling piglets, fattening pigs, and sows, respectively, indicating that they were moving toward the RWA status. There were no significant differences in biosecurity status between RWA and non-RWA farms, but biosecurity improved in all farms throughout the study. RWA farms were smaller (median 200 sows) compared to non-RWA farms (median 350 sows). The 4-week system was used more in non-RWA farms, while the 3- and 5-week systems were used most often in RWA farms. This study showed that farmers could achieve and maintain the RWA status through farm-specific coaching related to prudent AMU and improved biosecurity.