Antibiotic resistance - the ability of microorganisms to survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics - is a growing threat to human and animal health worldwide, as it makes it impossible to fight infections. It is caused by the excessive and unreasonable use of antibiotics, which results in the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. They can be transmitted from animals to humans through the food chain, the environment and direct contact with animals carrying resistant strains. Farmers and livestock farm workers are a particularly vulnerable group. Therefore, an important issue today is to understand the risks and the correct use of antimicrobials in livestock production.
To this end, the AUPB, with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed Guidelines for the Rational Use of Antimicrobial Veterinary Medicines in Pig Production as part of the technical assistance project ‘Ensuring Animal Health in Ukraine’. The guidelines provide
- an overview of the main causes and consequences of antibiotic resistance;
- practical recommendations for reducing the use of antibiotics on the farm;
- examples of successful measures to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig production;
- key principles of responsible antibiotic management and methods of disposal of unused drugs.
Adherence to these guidelines will help ensure the health and productivity of animals, contribute to the preservation of the effectiveness of antibiotics and contribute to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit, voluntary organisation founded by domestic pork producers. The main goals of the association are to represent and protect the rights and interests of the association's farms, promote the development and implementation of new technologies for efficient pork production, expand sales markets, and protect the domestic market.