However, responsible planning and management of existing products - 'antibiotic stewardship' - can help preserve the efficacy of current therapeutic treatments for both human medicine and modern livestock and poultry production.

A major concern has been that overuse of common products in feed or water for animals would lead to the transfer of resistance genes to human pathogens.

In the US, the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) has addressed this concern. Starting in January 2017, many drugs can no longer be used for feed efficiency or growth promotion, but only in the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and only "when necessary for assuring animal health."

Regulatory authorities acknowledge the important role antimicrobials play in treating, controlling, and preventing disease in food-producing animals.

Antibiotic stewardship supports the regulatory effort by helping to extend the useful life of certain antimicrobials through a coordinated programme that maximises therapeutic impact while minimising toxicity and the development of resistance.

Diamond V products provide research-proven support for the stewardship of antibiotics and other antimicrobials in modern livestock and poultry production. Our nutritional health products can help preserve the efficacy of current therapeutic treatments for both human medicine and animal agriculture around the world.

Learn more with a free subscription to Diamond V Update monthly newsletter or speak with a Diamond V Poultry Advisor at the upcoming International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals, 20-23 June, Wageningen, Netherlands.