Swiss study links farm type to antimicrobial use in cattle and pigs

A new Swiss study suggests that farm structure may shape antimicrobial use in ways that vary by species. Using data from Switzerland’s national veterinary antibiotic reporting system, researchers compared specialized single-species farms with mixed farms housing dairy cattle alongside finisher pigs and found opposite patterns: dairy cattle on mixed farms had higher antimicrobial use, while finisher pigs on mixed farms had lower use than pigs on specialized finisher operations. The study, published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, draws on IS ABV reporting data, a national system that records antibiotic use by animal species, production type, farm unit, and veterinary practice. (blv.admin.ch)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings are a reminder that antimicrobial stewardship may need to be tailored not just to species, but to the whole farm system. Switzerland has continued to tighten its One Health response to antimicrobial resistance through its StAR 2024-2027 action plan, and national reporting has shown long-term declines in veterinary antibiotic sales. This study adds a more granular point: mixed-species management may create different disease pressures, treatment habits, or decision-making patterns for cattle versus pigs, which could affect benchmarking and stewardship strategies. (blv.admin.ch)

What to watch: Watch for follow-up work on which management factors, such as housing, biosecurity, herd health planning, or prescribing culture, explain why mixed farms appear to push antimicrobial use in different directions for dairy cattle and finisher pigs. (boris-portal.unibe.ch)