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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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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.