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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 14th June 2023
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Antibiotic use in pig farming cut by 75 per cent
The effort aims to promote the health and welfare of pigs while minimising antibiotic use
The eight-year effort surpasses the 30 per cent reduction target.

The UK pig industry has succeeded in reducing its antibiotic use by 75 per cent through an eight-year effort.

The latest data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), collected using the electronic Medicine Book (eMB), shows a 20 per cent reduction in antibiotic use in UK pig farms in 2022, bringing the total reduction to 75 per cent since 2015.

This also means that the UK pig industry has surpassed the 30 per cent reduction target set by RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) for 2020-2024.

The achievement was the result of collaboration between farmers, veterinarians and key stakeholders in the pig industry, which aimed to promote the health and welfare of pigs while minimising antibiotic use.

The data, representing 95 per cent of pigs slaughtered in the UK, shows antibiotic use to be 70mg /PCU in 2022, compared to 87mg/PCU in 2021.

The results will be analysed and shared with several key stakeholders, enabling the industry to identify opportunities for optimising individual antibiotic usage.

AHDB head of animal health & welfare Dr Mandy Nevel said: “Farmers and vets should be extremely proud of the work they have done to demonstrate a responsible approach to antibiotic use. The extensive data set collated over the last eight years has provided robust evidence of progress and has helped vets and farmers work collaboratively to make changes on farm and monitor that progress.

"The eMB was an industry initiative facilitated by the Pig Health and Welfare Council, and over the last eight years, champions of the system, both farmers and vets, have led the industry on the road to responsible antibiotic use. It is wonderful to see what the industry collective can and has achieved.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."