A Research Framework for Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Antibiotics in Livestock Production: Lawsonia Intracellularis in Canadian Pig Production as an Example

Growing concern about antibiotic resistance has increased regulation and market pressure that limits a farmer’s ability to use antibiotics and manage their business. Rather than focus specifically on resistance, effective regulation will also consider the value that different antibiotics provide to livestock producers. This study uses a simulation model of a Canadian farrow-to-finish pig farm to demonstrate how the economic benefit of different antibiotics can be measured. This is done by imposing L. intracellularis on the model and then evaluating which antibiotics and vaccines are the most profitable for managing the disease. If this were to be done for the most important diseases in each livestock industry, the results could be combined to determine which antibiotics are the most valuable for that sector. This study indicates that prophylactic chlortetracycline is the most profitable option for managing L. intracellularis while the two vaccine options are some of the least profitable options.