Farming the Future® : Antimicrobial Resistance: What Farmers Need to Know and Why It Matters
Our Mercury platform has been designed to support environmental, technical and management monitoring for key health issues. This article explores a key and important health issue that involves both human and animal future health concerns. It is aimed as a primer for key facts on this issue, why it is important and what emerging themes are being considered for farmer’s to respond to.
As farmers, you work hard to keep your animals healthy and productive. Whether you’re raising cattle, poultry, pigs, or fish, antibiotics and other medicines have likely been key tools for managing disease and ensuring good performance. But there’s a growing challenge that affects not just farmers, but everyone in the world: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR is when bacteria, parasites, or other germs become resistant to the medicines designed to kill them, like antibiotics. This means the treatments that once worked well might no longer cure infections, putting both animals and people at risk. Let’s break down what AMR is, why it matters for your farm, and what you can do about it.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
Antimicrobials (like antibiotics) are medicines used to treat infections in animals and people. Over time, germs like bacteria can adapt and become “resistant” to these medicines. When this happens:
- Infections are harder to treat.
- Animals may stay sick longer or spread disease.
- Some infections might not respond to treatment at all.
For example:
- A calf with pneumonia may need stronger and more expensive antibiotics if the common ones stop working.
- Chickens with resistant infections can pass bacteria into the environment or food chain, impacting consumers.
Why Does AMR Happen?
AMR develops naturally, but certain practices speed it up, such as:
- Overuse of Antibiotics:
- Using antibiotics when they’re not needed, like for viral infections that antibiotics can’t cure.
- Giving antibiotics to healthy animals to promote growth or prevent disease in unsanitary conditions.
- Incomplete Treatments:
- Not finishing a prescribed antibiotic course can leave behind the strongest germs, which survive and multiply.
- Uncontrolled Use:
- Using antibiotics without proper veterinary advice increases the risk of misuse.
- Environmental Spread:
- Antibiotics or resistant bacteria can enter the soil, water, or feed, creating more opportunities for resistance to spread.
Why is AMR a Problem for Farmers?
- Harder-to-Treat Diseases
If antibiotics stop working, infections in animals take longer to cure and may require more expensive or less effective treatments. This increases:
- Costs for medication and veterinary services.
- Losses due to animal deaths or reduced productivity.
- Lower Productivity
Diseased animals produce less:
- Sick cows give less milk.
- Stressed chickens lay fewer eggs.
- Pigs with lingering infections grow slower, delaying market readiness.
- Risks to Human Health
AMR doesn’t just affect animals—it affects people too. Resistant bacteria can transfer to humans through:
- Direct contact with animals.
- Contaminated meat, milk, or eggs.
- Manure or runoff water from farms.
This puts everyone, including you and your family, at greater risk of untreatable infections.
- Economic Losses
Countries with high levels of AMR may face:
- Export bans or trade restrictions on animal products.
- Higher production costs to prevent or manage resistant infections.
- Loss of consumer trust in products perceived as unsafe.
What Can Farmers Do to Fight AMR?
The good news is that farmers play a key role in controlling AMR. By taking a few simple steps, you can protect your animals, your farm’s profitability, and your community’s health.
- Use Antibiotics Responsibly
- Only Use When Necessary: Avoid antibiotics for minor illnesses or routine prevention in healthy animals. Instead, use them when prescribed by a vet.
- Complete the Course: Always follow the vet’s instructions and ensure animals receive the full treatment, even if they appear better.
- Avoid Human Antibiotics: Some antibiotics used in humans should not be used for animals to prevent cross-resistance.
- Improve Animal Health Without Antibiotics
- Vaccinations: Prevent diseases before they start by keeping animals up-to-date on vaccines.
- Hygiene: Clean barns, equipment, and water sources regularly to reduce the spread of disease.
- Nutrition: Feed animals a balanced diet to strengthen their immune systems.
- Biosecurity: Limit contact between your animals and outside sources of disease (e.g., wild animals, visitors, new livestock).
- Keep Good Records
- Track antibiotic use, vaccination schedules, and health issues on your farm. This helps:
- Identify patterns in illness.
- Work with vets to develop targeted health plans.
- Choose Alternatives to Antibiotics
- Probiotics and Prebiotics: These promote good gut bacteria, improving digestion and immunity.
- Improved Housing: Comfortable, spacious housing reduces stress, making animals less likely to get sick.
- Educate Yourself and Your Team
- Learn about AMR and the latest farming practices to reduce its impact.
- Train workers to recognize signs of illness early and understand proper antibiotic use.
What About Policies and Support?
Governments and organizations are taking steps to address AMR, such as:
- Banning Antibiotics for Growth Promotion: Many countries have outlawed the use of antibiotics to make animals grow faster.
- Encouraging Alternatives: Research into vaccines, probiotics, and better animal management systems is growing.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Farmers are being asked to report antimicrobial use to track and manage resistance trends.
By staying informed and following these guidelines, you can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable farming system.
Why Acting Now is Important
- Protect Your Farm’s Future: Resistant infections can hurt your farm’s profitability and reputation.
- Meet Consumer Demands: Shoppers increasingly want food raised responsibly, with minimal antibiotic use.
- Safeguard Public Health: Reducing AMR helps ensure antibiotics remain effective for both animals and humans.
The Takeaway
Antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge, but farmers like you are part of the solution. By using antibiotics responsibly, improving farm management, and staying informed, you can keep your animals healthy, protect your farm’s productivity, and help fight this growing threat. Small changes on your farm today can make a big difference for tomorrow. Records, monitoring and health management are key tools in the fight against AMR.
For more advice, reach out to your veterinarian or contact us directly at info@agxio.com.
Together, we can build a future with healthier farms and safer food for everyone.