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Chief vet welcomes fall in antibiotic use
“The reduction in antibiotic usage achieved by the UK pig industry over the last two years is excellent" - Christine Middlemiss. 

Pig sector has more than halved its antibiotic use in two years

Chief vet Christine Middlemiss has welcomed new figures from the National Pig Association (NPA) that show there was a 28 per cent fall in antibiotic usage in 2017.

The figures represent 87 per cent of pigs that were slaughtered in the UK last year and show that total antibiotic usage fell from 183mg/PCU in 2016 to 131mg/PCU.

The reduction means that the pig sector has more than halved its use of antibiotics in two years, building on the 34 per cent reduction reported in 2016.

Commenting on the figures, Ms Middlemiss said: “The reduction in antibiotic usage achieved by the UK pig industry over the last two years is excellent. This has been achieved by the sector working together and following a clear agreed plan of action, which is focused on responsible reductions alongside the prevention and management of disease.”

She added: “This approach is essential for the sustainability of British agriculture and will help to maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics in the future.”

The figure comes just seven months after a task force set up by RUMA published new targets to further reduce the use of antibiotics in the livestock sector.

NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford said: “This figure demonstrates the continued hard work and commitment displayed by pig farmers, aided by veterinarians and other farm advisers, to use antibiotics more responsibly.

“We knew it would be challenging to meet the agreed reduction targets, but the pig sector is rising to that challenge and making progress every day. Nonetheless, the pig industry’s efforts will not stop here. There is further work to be done to reduce antibiotic use, such as improved collaboration between farmers to tackle endemic disease.”

Image (C) Defra

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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
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.