The Importance of Economic Assessments to Support Changes in Livestock Farming Practices: A Focus on Antimicrobial Use L'importance des évaluations économiques pour soutenir les changements dans les pratiques d’élevage : un focus sur l'utilisation des antimicrobiens Die Bedeutung wirtschaftlicher Untersuchungen zur Unterstützung von Veränderungen in der Tierhaltung: Ein Fokus auf die Verwendung antimikrobieller Mittel

Abstract

The intensification of livestock farming reshaped the epidemiological, economic and environmental landscape of production systems. With the resulting increase in disease pressure, farmers turned to readily available and cost-efficient tools to help manage animal health and even increase productivity – antimicrobials. Growing concerns around antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have prompted regulatory and private initiatives to curtail antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock. The latter indicates that farmers/livestock industry are taking some ownership of the problem and playing a key role in the solution. In fact, recent research has found that farmers are willing to adjust farming practices if this does not affect financial viability of their businesses. However, our scoping literature review found that information is lacking or insufficient for farmers to make these decisions. It is also vital to understand the extent to which farm-level decisions are producing negative externalities, and what needs to be changed to ensure societal optimum. While advocating for a sustainable reduction in AMU in livestock production, it is important to provide adequate information on the alternatives to their application in managing animal health and welfare. Evidence on the economic, productive and/or epidemiological benefits of such alternatives, when compared to the current situation, are crucial if farmers are to change their production practices with regards to AMU.