Antimicrobial Stewardship

It is everyone’s responsibility to help maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics for humans and animals by:

• using them responsibly
• complying with prescribing guidelines
• implementing stewardship programs
• monitoring their use
• monitoring for resistance.

The Australian feedlot industry is dedicated to preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials and protecting human and animal health by promoting responsible antimicrobial use.

To do this, the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA), through Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), has invested grainfed levies to develop the Antimicrobial stewardship guidelines for the Australian cattle feedlot industry. The guidelines arm feedlot managers with practical information on antimicrobial resistance and provide a framework to ensure the appropriate use of antimicrobials. This reduces the risk of antimicrobial resistance and safeguards the use of these important animal health tools well into the future.

These practical guidelines have been developed by independent and internationally recognised antimicrobial stewardship experts, Australian industry practitioners and feedlot industry representatives.

The guidelines align the feedlot industry with national and international initiatives to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials for people and animals. Specifically, it aligns with the Federal Government’s First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy (2015–2019) objective that encourages animal industries to develop stewardship programs.