Feedlot animal health management program

Summary

The Australian feedlot industry is committed to retaining its status as a supplier of safe and nutritious beef into the future. Maximising animal health and welfare outcomes, preservation of key domestic and international markets and the maintenance of human health are key imperatives for the Australian feedlot industry. Accordingly, the Australian feedlot industry has developed a  comprehensive Animal Health Management Program.

This program will ensure feedlots have access to information on evidence-based infection prevention and control measures, and ensure that when animal health treatments are required, that they are used appropriately and prudently to minimise the potential development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both cattle and humans. With the increasing importance of antimicrobial stewardship, a multidisciplinary team was assembled comprising antimicrobial stewardship experts, feedlot veterinary clinicians and university veterinary microbiologists to develop the program.

The following elements have been produced for the Australian feedlot industry:

• A situation review on antimicrobial resistance for the feedlot industry.
• Survey of the Australian feedlot industry on antimicrobial use and practices.
• Development of antimicrobial stewardship guidelines and framework for the Australian Cattle Feedlot Industry.
• Literature review of alternatives to antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of commonly occurring feedlot diseases.
• Development of eLearning courses for antimicrobial stewardship for the feedlot industry.Development of an outline and training materials on antimicrobial stewardship for the feedlot industry.