The INAPORC panel is a random voluntary sample of 160 pig farms (approx. 1% of the total number in France). The simple random sampling started in 2010 and has been renewed in 2013 and in 2016. Sampling is performed in the exhaustive national swine database of identification, BDPORC, of which are selected farms inside mainland France with > 49 sows, and farms with < than 50 sows but with > 99 places in post-weaning and/or fattening units. The representativeness of the sample is confirmed post hoc (Chi2) through confrontation of the farms characteristics (production orientation, geographic distribution, membership to a production structure and number of sows) to those in the national agricultural census. The collection, analysis and communication is managed by IFIP, ANSES and stakeholders representatives.

Animal subcategories: Four weight categories are distinguished: sows, fatteners, weaners and sucklers.

Input: This is the responsibility of the IFIP staff, based on data provided by vets, feed mills and farmers. Data collection is manual.
Vets and feed mills, designated by the farmers, provide the detailed list of VMPs containing antimicrobials having been sold to each farmer over the reference year [the complete products’ name, presentation, concentration and quantities dispensed; for medicated feed: volume (tons), active substance(s) and proportion (in ppm)].
Farmers provide data allowing to estimate animal at risk of being treated (number of sows, number of sold/bought piglets/pigs at each weight group). For each antimicrobial they bought, farmers also describe, during a phone call, their antimicrobial usage pattern [the weight group treated and the indications of treatment (digestive, respiratory…)].

The system uses dose-based units of measurement (DDD and DCD based on national SPC; DDDvet, DCDvet from EMA[1]). They are used to calculate two indicators: the number of daily doses per animal and the number of course doses per animal. The weights at treatment of the animals are national, standard values (250 kg for a sow, 2 kg for a suckling piglet, 15 kg for a weaner and 50 kg for a fattener).

The farms participating in the INAPORC Panel can compare their own results to overall reference values (= average AMU of each third of the sample). This is purely meant as feedback and bears no consequences for the farmers.

Each farmer receives his own results at the end of the study, in the form of a table where he can compare his results to the national reference.