Farm vets offered antimicrobial stewardship support
Reported antibiotics data currently represents only 28 per cent of the dairy sector.
RCVS Knowledge is to offer additional support to beef, sheep and dairy veterinary surgeons, to help the sector with antimicrobial stewardship.
The Medicine Hub provides an online tool for veterinary surgeons to compare their medicine use, in an effort to improve data collection and tackle antibiotic resistance.
However, the reported data on the service for ruminant sectors is low. It currently represents 28 per cent of the dairy sector and nine per cent of the sheep sectors.
RCVS Knowledge has said that it will collaborate with the red meat and dairy sectors as well as the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which developed the Medicine Hub, to support individual veterinary professionals with antimicrobial stewardship.
The charity is working with its Farm Vet Champions community, which it formed as part of its goal to implement practical changes across the profession. The collaboration will see them provide tailored support for farm veterinary surgeons and their practice teams, including one-to-one consultation and in-person workshops.
Farm Vet Champions will be encouraged to set SMART goals – which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound – to improve their antimicrobial stewardship credentials and fill data gaps.
They will also guide their teams to work with clients to upload farm level data to the Medicine Hub.
It is hoped that these actions will support the sectors to close the gap on targets set by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA). RUMA has targeted the sector with reporting 2024 data for 8,000 sheep flocks, 8,000 beef herds and 95 per cent of the dairy industry.
The project has been funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which RCVS Knowledge says will allow them to reach more farm veterinary surgeons and their teams.
Fiona Lovatt, RCVS Knowledge Clinical Lead for Medicines, said: “I am so encouraged every time I have a conversation with an individual vet or a group of practice team members about how they are engaging with their farm clients.
“This is not just a project about data and figures, it is about conversations, relationships, healthy animals, and good practice. It is about doing the right thing, about the reputation of the red meat and dairy sectors, and the reputation of the farm veterinary professions.”
There is free CPD available on the Farm Vet Champions platform, or you can contact RCVS Knowledge for tailored support.
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Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
