10.10.2014

The total consumption of antimicrobial agents by the country’s animals in 2013 was about 128 tons - a 4-percent increase over the previous year. According to the new DANMAP (Danish Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Research Program) report, the increase is mainly attributed to a 6-percent increase in the consumption of antimicrobials in pig production, which accounts for the vast majority of Denmark’s meat production. However, consumption in poultry and pets also increased. The level of fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin) resistance in Campylobacter jejuni remains higher among isolates from imported broiler meat compared with isolates from Danish broiler meat. Consumption of critically important antimicrobials in animal production is still low. In 2013, the overall consumption of antimicrobial agents in poultry (all poultry) was approximately 1,270 kg active compound, which represents a 57% increase compared with 2012. In poultry (other than turkeys), the increase was mainly in the use of simple penicillins (from 10 kg in 2012 to 110 kg in 2013), but also in the use of tetracyclines (36 kg in 2012 and 110 kg in 2013). In turkeys there was also an increase in the use of simple penicillins, but the most significant increase was seen in the use of tetracyclines, which increased from 127 kg to 409 kg in 2013. For broilers, amoxicillin has been the most commonly used antimicrobial agent for at least a decade. Fluoroquinolones were the second most commonly used ntimicrobial agent until 2007, but has not been used in broilers in 2010-2013. The reported use of fluoroquinolones in poultry has been low since 2006, and they were not used in the poultry production in 2013. In Denmark, poultry production comprises mainly the broiler production (Gallus gallus), followed by egg layers (Gallus gallus) and turkey production. In addition, there is a very small production of ducks, geese, and game birds.