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Alternatives to Veterinary Antimicrobials

Geographical location
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Netherlands
Spain
United Kingdom
Keywords
animal husbandry
pig farming
animal health
animal welfare
Agricultural sectors
Livestock (generic)
Pigs
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research & Innovation programme)
Project acronym
AVANT
Project type
Research project
Starting date
2020
End date
2024
Project status
Ongoing
Website
CORDIS
Title (in English): 
Alternatives to Veterinary Antimicrobials
Language: 
English
Objective of the project (native language): 

AVANT is a multi-actor inter-sectorial project aimed at developing alternatives to antimicrobials for the management of bacterial infections in pigs, especially diarrhoea during the weaning period, as the major indication for antimicrobial use in livestock in Europe. During pre-clinical studies, efficacy, toxicity, and mode of action of these interventions is tested, and their dosage and formulation optimized. The results and a survey for veterinarian-, farmer- and consumers perception of antimicrobial alternatives, will be used together with legal and economic considerations to select three interventions for large-scale farm trials, assessing clinical efficacy and impact on antimicrobial use.

Objective of the project (in English): 

AVANT is a multi-actor inter-sectorial project aimed at developing alternatives to antimicrobials for the management of bacterial infections in pigs, especially diarrhoea during the weaning period, as the major indication for antimicrobial use in livestock in Europe. During pre-clinical studies, efficacy, toxicity, and mode of action of these interventions is tested, and their dosage and formulation optimized. The results and a survey for veterinarian-, farmer- and consumers perception of antimicrobial alternatives, will be used together with legal and economic considerations to select three interventions for large-scale farm trials, assessing clinical efficacy and impact on antimicrobial use.

Description of activities (in English): 

The AVANT portfolio comprises a variety of alternatives for treatment or prevention of diarrhoea and/or respiratory infections, namely:

• Gut-stabilizing interventions based on a symbiotic (pre- and probiotic) product and faecal microbiota transplantation
• Novel veterinary medicinal products containing bacteriophages and polymers for targeted treatment of enterotoxigenic E. coli infections
• Immuno-stimulating injectable and feed additive products
• Alternative feeding strategies targeting sows and piglets

All steps are supported by regulatory advice for quick market entry post-project. Generated and existing data on antimicrobial use, pig demographics and projected consumption of pork, will be used in mathematical modelling to estimate the reduction in antimicrobial use that could be achieved by 2030, if the AVANT alternatives were widely adopted in pig production.

EU contribution: 
€ 5 999 905,02
Contact person: 

Stefan Weiss

Contact e-mail: 
weiss@rtds-group.com
Project coordinator
Organization/Institution name (original language): 
University of Copenhagen
Contact person: 
Luca Guardabassi
Address: 
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
E-mail: 
lg@sund.ku.dk
Phone: 
06802312182
Partner category: 
Researcher
Further details
Additional information: 

AVANT has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 862829.