Subtherapeutic use of antibiotics in pork production: Risks and alternatives

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to discuss the issue of subtherapeutic use of antibiotics in pork production and possible alternatives. Specifically, the review describes the potential problem of antibiotic resistance and reviews disease prevention and immune potentiation strategies as alternatives to subtherapeutic antibiotics. In recent years, the use of in-feed subtherapeutic antibiotics by the pork industry for growth promotion and disease prophylaxis has come under increased scrutiny. The potential risk of bacteria acquiring resistance to specific antibiotics and the detrimental effects that this may have on human health has resulted in the banning of certain antibiotics in some European countries. Despite the current interest in the reduction or elimination of subtherapeutic antibiotic use in livestock production, there may be a risk that such a reduction or elimination would have negative effects on animal welfare, nutrient utilization, manure production and economic sustainability. A number of alternatives to subtherapeutic antibiotics appear promising; however, more research is required before they can be considered viable commercial products. Consequently, a systems approach involving nutrition, bacteriology, immunology, pathology and herd management is needed to find a cost-effective and practical way to maximize the efficient production of high-quality pork without the use of subtherapeutic antibiotics.