News
-
News Articles
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
-
October 2017
- Downward trend for gap between food- and feed-grade SMP prices
- Limited EU farm response to record high butter prices
- Sentiment currently biggest driver of wholesale markets
- The impact of calving system on milk yield and quality
- Russia's dairy industry adjusts to embargo
- EU and UK intend to split import quotas post-Brexit
- Futures markets respond to potential removal of fixed price intervention
- Fonterra significantly cuts New Zealand growth forecast
- Butter Retail Price Index up significantly in September
- EU butter production could rebound 3% in 2018
- Brexit scenario modelling for UK dairy
- End to price surge expected as supply forecasted to grow
- National calving pattern boosting autumn milk
- Scottish government looking at tackling butter price volatility
- EU dairy herd declines
- GB sees tightening in calving blocks
- GDT price index falls 2.4%
- How are milk prices affected by calving systems?
- Ambitious aim to sign all Scottish dairy farmers up for Dairy Pro
- New Dairy Manager for AHDB in Scotland
- Horizon modelling report ‘Brexit scenarios: An impact assessment’
- AHDB launches management training scheme for farmers
- Record-breaking Anuga for AHDB Exports
- UK signs up to dairy declaration of Rotterdam
- Antibiotic use
- AHDB Dorset Conference Highlights Supply Chain Value for farms post Brexit
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- Archive
- Technical Articles
- News Archive
Antibiotic use
Published 27 October 17
Antibiotic use
The farming industry has an important part to play in managing antimicrobial resistance and significant progress has already been made to ensure the livestock sectors’ contribution is comprehensive and all-embracing.
AHDB works with livestock farmers to promote disease prevention methods such as vaccination, biosecurity and improved management and housing to reduce the need for antibiotics on farms by preventing and eliminating disease. We encourage professionals, such as vets, to work closely with farmers in order to best manage animal health issues and to minimise the need for all medicines. We also believe that animal welfare is paramount and therefore continue to support the use of antibiotics and other veterinary medicines where necessary.
AHDB also supports the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) in promoting responsible and prudent use of antibiotics in livestock and in helping the industry to progress animal health matters. AHDB has helped coordinate the Targets Task Force groups for sheep and beef, which identify meaningful objectives to reduce, refine or replace antibiotic use in all livestock sectors, while also supporting the Dairy Antimicrobial Stewardship Group led by the milk buyers.
And AHDB is working on behalf of the industry to provide independent data sets on antibiotic use in livestock production to enable trends to be identified and, ultimately, usage targets to be monitored. This currently includes an eMedicines Book (eMB) for the pork industry and we are currently considering the possibility of similar options for other livestock sectors. Other examples of AHDB’s extensive programmes of work to improve animal health includes the Mastitis Control Plan in the dairy sector and AHDB Beef & Lamb is also working to promote the use of vaccination policies alongside good management practices and housing design to reduce cases of respiratory disease in beef cattle.
AHDB's overarching priorities are to inspire British farming and growing to be more competitive and resilient, and to accelerate innovation and productivity growth through coordinated research and development and the associated knowledge exchange.
In line with the recommendations made by the O’Neill Report, the ‘One Health’ approach envisages a collaborative approach to reducing the risk of resistance developing from bacteria exposed to antibiotics in people, in animals or in the environment. AHDB believes that improving the health and welfare of livestock will reduce the need for the use of antibiotics and will therefore reduce the risk of widespread AMR developing.
For further information about antibiotics use and the agricultural sector visit: http://www.farmantibiotics.org/
One Health Initiative: www.onehealthinitiative.com
Bill Parker
AHDB Director of Research