Antimicrobial use in livestock contributes to antimicrobial resistance, posing a significant threat to human and animal health. However, further restrictions on antimicrobials risk compromising animal health and welfare. AVANT addresses this challenge by developing sustainable alternatives to antimicrobials for managing respiratory and digestive tract infections, particularly pig enteritis, a leading driver of antimicrobial use in food animals.
Objectives:
AVANT aims to develop and test complementary alternatives, advancing them to TRL 7-8 (close to market entry) for treating or preventing post-weaning diarrhoea and respiratory infections in pigs. These include:
- Targeted treatment for enterotoxigenic E. coli infections.
- Alternative feeding strategies for sows and piglets.
- Gut-stabilizing interventions using synbiotic (prebiotic and probiotic) feed additives.
- Faecal microbiota transplantation for gut health.
- Immunostimulants (oral and injectable).
- Novel veterinary products with bacteriophages and polymers.
Approach:
Pre-clinical studies will evaluate efficacy, safety, and regulatory compliance, while mathematical modeling predicts the impact of these interventions on antimicrobial reduction. Large-scale farm trials will assess the most promising solutions’ effectiveness and sustainability.
Impact:
AVANT seeks to reduce antimicrobial reliance in livestock, improve animal health and welfare, and support sustainable farming by delivering innovative, near-market solutions for managing key infections in pigs.