26 Aug 2017
The outbreak of serious drug-resistant bugs in 2009, which was linked to livestock farming forced the Dutch government to act. Some of the key interventions included the government working with the livestock industry to develop new policies which included a ban on preventative dosing and using antibiotics by prescription only among other measures.
During a visit to the Netherlands in June 2017 by to Innovation for Agriculture, Dutch dairy farmer Arnold van Dee explained how he has applied management practices to help reduce cases of mastitis in his 100 milking dairy herd with significant reduction in antibiotic usage. “A drastic reduction of antibiotics in the treatment of mastitis can be achieved if farmers apply an integrated management approach” Mr van Dee explained.
Hi targets included dry cow management, building design and improved awareness.
