The Dutch organisation for the animal feed industry (Nevedi) would like to stop the use of therapeutic antibiotics in feed as soon as possible, in cooperation with livestock producers and veterinarians.
This way, Nevedi hopes to contribute finding a solution to the problem of antibiotic resistance in both humans and animals. A minority of the antibiotics in Dutch livestock production are supplied through compound feed. Especially in pig production, veterinarians still prescribe medicated feed containing antibiotics, after consultation with producers themselves. Since 2008, the production of feed containing antibiotics has come down.
Nevedi claimes that during transport of medicated feed, leftovers of antibiotics may end up in feed destined for healthy animals – helping antibiotic resistance to grow. In addition, there are alternatives to medicated feed, like supplying this through water or injections.
The use of antibiotics in animal feed for non-medicinal purposes has been banned in the European Union since January 1st, 2006 already.
