Methods and compositions for reducing antibiotic administration to farm animals

The present invention provides a method of identifying an animal for which antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate, comprising: a) collecting a sample from said animal; b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample; c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and d) initiating antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.