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One Health report highlights fall in antibiotic use
Total sales in tonnes of antibiotics in animals and humans fell by 19 per cent between 2013 and 2017.
Findings show overall drop in resistance to critical antibiotics

Efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics in both animals and humans have been highlighted in a new Government report.  

Published by the VMD, the UK One Health Report brings together UK data (2013-2017), on antibiotic resistance in key bacteria that are common to animals and humans. It also includes details on the number of antibiotics sold for use in animals and antibiotics prescribed to humans.

The report shows total sales in tonnes of antibiotics in animals and humans fell by 19 per cent between 2013 and 2017. Over this period, total weight in tonnes fell by six per cent in people but was far greater in animals (35 per cent).

It also shows that there was an overall drop in resistance to critical antibiotics. In food-producing animals, no resistance was detected in E. Coli or Salmonella to Colistin, and very low or no resistance was detected to 3rd generation cephalosporins.

A key priority for the UK government is to protect human and animal health by minimising the development and spread of antibiotic resistance,” said Professor Peter Borriello, CEO of the VMD. “I am pleased to see our progress presented in this second One Health report, which provides valuable information for us to use to progress further in tackling the threat of AMR together.

Responding to the report, a RUMA spokesperson said: “In farming, cutting the risk of resistance developing within veterinary medicine is a primary goal as we need to preserve the antibiotics we have to ensure we can continue to treat disease and – in doing so – safeguard animal health and welfare and food safety. However, we also need to ensure that risk to human health arising from the use of antibiotics in farm animals is kept to a minimum.

“We are pleased by the progress in both these areas from measures introduced to improve stewardship, pioneered by the poultry meat sector in 2012 and implemented progressively by other sectors from 2015 onwards.”

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk