Antibiotics use versus profitability on sow farms in the Netherlands

In 2009, the Dutch government provided policy objectives (i.e., targets) for a reduction in veterinary antibiotics use of −20 % in 2011, −50 % in 2013 and −70 % in 2015 relative to the use in 2009. The relationship between antibiotics use and performance of Dutch sow farms during this policy reform was analysed using the Farm Accountancy Data Network database comprising cross-sectional farm data from 2004 to 2016. The results show that there is a significant downward trend in antibiotics use of 57 %. Panel data analysis (n = 74 sow farms) revealed that the reduction in antibiotic use did not l... Mehr ...