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Effective Livestock Production with Low Use of Antibiotics

Learn what antibiotic resistance is and how to prevent it while increasing productivity among your livestock.

4,041 enrolled on this course

Photo of two cows eating hay from a container. Photo: Malin Planting/SLU
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Understand disease prevention and antibiotic use in livestock production

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide and is a threat to the health of animals and humans. However, there is still a need for an efficient livestock production, which requires healthy animals. In many countries, this has led to an extensive and often inappropriate use of antibiotics, which may contribute to increasing antibiotic resistance.

On this course, you will learn how basic disease preventive measures in combination with sensible use of antibiotics can sustain or even increase the livestock production and limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a problem?

    • Introduction to the course

      In the following video you will get an introduction to the course as well as a presentation of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. After this you will be introduced to this week's topic. Photo: Malin Planting, SLU.

    • Introduction to the One Health concept

      This section will give you an introduction to the One Health concept. It will also introduce you to the issue of antimicrobial resistance from both a human and an animal perspective. Image: Wikipedia

    • Introductory polls and discussions about antibiotics

      This is for triggering you to start to reflect on your own experiences and ideas about antibiotics, antibiotic use and resistance.

    • What are antibiotics and how does AMR develop?

      To be able to reflect upon the problem with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), you need to know the basics of AMR development and about antibiotics in general. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU.

    • Open forum and closing of Week 1

      Now that you have been introduced to antimicrobial resistance and One Health you will get the chance to discuss the topics with other learners.

  • Week 2

    What can you do to prevent disease?

    • Introduction to Week 2

      In this activity you will be introduced to the topics that will be covered in the second week of the course that is all about disease prevention. Photo: SLU.

    • The principles of disease preventive measures

      In this section you will learn the basic principles of disease prevention at your farm. You will also be introduced to the concept of biosecurity. Photo: Ontario Livestock and Poultry Council.

    • The economic benefits of healthy pigs

      In this activity our expert talks about the economic benefits of having healthy pigs. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU.

    • The economic benefits of healthy cows

      In this activity our expert talks about the economic benefits of having healthy cows.

    • Open forum and closing of Week 2

      You will now get the chance to discuss all the topics that were brought up during this week. Photo: Julio Gonzalez, SLU.

  • Week 3

    How should you use antibiotics?

    • Introduction to Week 3

      You will now be introduced to this week's topic which will cover how you should use antibiotics when needed in a professional way. Photo: SLU.

    • How to use antibiotics in a professional way in dairy herds

      You will now get to learn more about how you should use antibiotics in a professional way if you need to use them. This section will focus on antibiotic use in dairy herds. Photo: SLU.

    • The issue of falsified and substandard drugs

      In several parts of the world falsified or substandard drugs is a major issue, both in human and animal medicine. The issue is also depending on regulations and policies and the implementation of these. Image: Ulf Magnusson

    • How to use antibiotics in a professional way in pigs and poultry

      You will now get to learn more about how you should use antibiotics in a professional way if you need to use them. This section will focus on antibiotic use in pigs and flocks of layers. Photo: SLU

    • Summing up and closing of Week 3

      You will now learn how Swedish farmers use antibiotics and get the chance to discuss what you have learnt this week and how you could implement your new knowledge into your everyday life. Photo: Mats Gerentz, SLU

  • Week 4

    Combining disease prevention and low use of antibiotics

    • Introduction to Week 4

      In this section you will get an introduction to the last week of the course dealing with how to combine disease prevention and low use of antibiotics with focus on the collaboration between farmers and veterinarians. Photo: SLU

    • The collaboration between farmers and veterinarians

      In this section you will see some examples of what the collaboration between a farmer and a herd health veterinarian can look like. Photo: SLU

    • Summary of the concept of combining disease preventive measures and low use of antibiotics

      In the following section you will get a short summary of how you can combine disease prevention with low use of antibiotics for a more effective livestock production. Photo: SLU.

    • Final discussion and closing of Week 4 and the course

      The course has now come to an end and it is time for a final discussion and to summarize this week and the course as a whole. Photo: Malin Planting, SLU

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain what antibiotics are and why antibiotic resistance develops on a basic level, and how antibiotic resistance affects animals and humans.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the basics of infectious disease prevention.
  • Identify simple measures that can be implemented on your farm, to reduce the need of antibiotics while sustaining (or increasing) livestock production.
  • Explain when it is appropriate to use antibiotics and how to use them.
  • Summarise how one can combine disease preventive measures and prudent use of antibiotics for productive and healthy animals on your farm.
  • Reflect on what you and (other) livestock producers around the world think about the subject, and what differences and similarities there are.

Who is the course for?

This course is for livestock keepers and professionals working in the livestock production sector (such as veterinarians and advisors) in low-income countries and emerging economies worldwide. The course might also be of interest for agricultural authorities in those countries.

Who will you learn with?

I am a Swedish licensed veterinarian and professor at SLU. Most of my time I devote to research and capacity development related to AMR in Africa and Asia and with international organisations.

I am a Swedish veterinarian working at SLU as a research associate. Previously, I have developed courses and trainings in the areas of One Health and AMR for Swedish and international participants.

Who developed the course?

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

SLU develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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