The use of antibiotics in Norwegian livestock has further decreased in 2023 according to new data from the Norwegian monitoring program for antibiotic resistance in microbes from feed, animals and foodstuffs (NORM-VET).
In 2023, the sale of antibacterial veterinary preparations for land animals reached 4,479 kg, representing a reduction of 143 kg from the previous year and the lowest sales recorded since 1993. Of this amount, 4,107 kg were used for food-producing land animals, including horses, while 372 kg were for pets like dogs and cats.
By contrast, Norway’s aquaculture industry saw an increase in antibiotic use. Sales of antibacterial agents for farmed fish totalled 548 kg in 2023, an increase of 123 kg from 2022.
Despite this upwards tick in the salmon industry, sales of antibiotics to Norwegian livestock were eight times higher than sales to farmed fish in 2023, as highlighted in a recent article by Norwegian aquaculture news service iLaks.
Norway, the world’s largest producer of farmed salmon, has led the way in reducing the use of chemicals and antibiotics in aquaculture. Leading companies, such as Mowi and Cermaq, are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, using physical and biological methods to control sea lice and other diseases. These methods include the use of lice skirts, lice-zapping lasers, cleaner fish, and freshwater treatments, which have reduced the need for chemical treatments.
