Possible ways to reduce antibiotic use in rabbit production are discussed, based on a literature survey. Several management strategies have been proven to successfully reduce disease pressure in rabbit production. The...Possible ways to reduce antibiotic use in rabbit production are discussed, based on a literature survey. Several management strategies have been proven to successfully reduce disease pressure in rabbit production. The primary way of reducing risk of disease is ＂all-in all-out＂ management, as it allows thorough cleaning and disinfection. A second tool is choosing reproduction stock with a minimal disease level. Animals with a near Specific-Pathogen-Free （SPF） status, or even entirely disease-free animals, lead to high-health-status farms where antibiotics are rarely used. To reduce the risk of enteritis, quantitative aspects in the early fattening stage are important, apart from some ,qualitative feed characteristics （especially the carbohydrate complex）. Finally, despite discussions about their effectiveness, pro/prebiotics and some other additives have shown some potential in reducing enteric problems. Alternatives to antibiotics are only useful, however, if the whole chain （reproduction stock producers, breeders, feed companies, slaughterhouses and even veterinarians） is convinced and forced into a globally consistent strategy. In the absence of such a consistent approach, both preventive and curative use of antibiotics remains the easiest and most inexpensive way to control disease in rabbit production.展开更多
文摘Possible ways to reduce antibiotic use in rabbit production are discussed, based on a literature survey. Several management strategies have been proven to successfully reduce disease pressure in rabbit production. The primary way of reducing risk of disease is ＂all-in all-out＂ management, as it allows thorough cleaning and disinfection. A second tool is choosing reproduction stock with a minimal disease level. Animals with a near Specific-Pathogen-Free （SPF） status, or even entirely disease-free animals, lead to high-health-status farms where antibiotics are rarely used. To reduce the risk of enteritis, quantitative aspects in the early fattening stage are important, apart from some ,qualitative feed characteristics （especially the carbohydrate complex）. Finally, despite discussions about their effectiveness, pro/prebiotics and some other additives have shown some potential in reducing enteric problems. Alternatives to antibiotics are only useful, however, if the whole chain （reproduction stock producers, breeders, feed companies, slaughterhouses and even veterinarians） is convinced and forced into a globally consistent strategy. In the absence of such a consistent approach, both preventive and curative use of antibiotics remains the easiest and most inexpensive way to control disease in rabbit production.
