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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 27th June 2017
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RUMA announces timetable for antibiotic targets
Following the O’Neill Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, the UK Government challenged UK agriculture to reduce average antibiotic use by around 20 per cent.
Final report to be published at RUMA Conference 

Livestock sectors will have until the end of September this year to finalise their objectives for targets relating to antibiotic use, the RUMA Targets Task Force has announced.

The task force was set up last year to identify meaningful objectives to reduce, refine or replace antibiotics in all UK livestock markets. Its members are currently consulting with specialists and organisations within their sectors to finalise draft proposals by the end of June.

Initial feedback on the proposals will be provided by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), who will confirm whether or not the proposals meet government expectations for targets, timescales and rationale. It will also be important to ensure these measures do not impact animal health and welfare.

Once the feedback has been received, livestock sectors have until September to finalise their objectives, which will be then be compiled into a report to be published at the RUMA Conference on 27 October.

Following the O’Neill Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, the UK Government challenged UK agriculture to reduce average antibiotic use by around 20 per cent, to 50mg/kg by 2018. However, the government wants the industry to develop its own sector-specific targets, to be confirmed by the end of 2017, according to RUMA chair Gwyn Jones.

“The challenge in every sector is very different according to structure, number of producers and the way it engages with the market,” he said. “Some have already made significant strides in reducing and refining use, others have further to go. But the Government is clear that every sector is expected to act and have a set of measurable objectives in place by the end of the year.”

Mr Jones noted there was a 10 per cent reduction in antibiotic sales for food producing animals between 2014 and 2015. The pig sector also recently announced the use of in-feed antibiotics for young pigs had halved, in addition to a 70 per cent reduction in the use of colistin.

“Despite this, we all understand the message that we must further reduce antibiotic use where it’s possible to do so without impacting animal welfare,” he added.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.