GOOD-VETERINARY-PRACTICES IN PIG FARMING

Compliance with the relevant Austrian legal provisions directed to the use of veterinary medicinal products is an inevitable prerequisit in prophylaxis and treatment of farm animals as veterinarians have to accept their responsibility in the production of non-hazardous foods from animal origin. In addition to the legal framework the guidelines devoted to the principles of Good-Veterinary-Practice (GVP) provide the basis for an optimalization of the veterinarians support in the management of farm animals. Based on an exact diagnosis and considering the regional resistance pattern as well as the typical feeding and zootechnical facilities, consequent implementation of GVP will refine and reduce the use of pharmaceuticals. GVP requests central diagnostic labs (Animal Health Service) as both, active and rational selection of therapeutics based on epidemiology and local resistance patterns to pathogens as well as the control of the consequences of the use of pharmaceuticals (residue formation) need to be monitored. The Styrian Animal Health Service database is providing routine recordings and evaluation of resistance patterns for selected antibiotics commonly used in treatment of enteral and pulmonary diseases. This has proven to be a useful tool for the practising veterinarian.