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Livestock antibiotic sales at lowest level to date
The report marks 10 years of data on AMR in pigs and poultry.
Statistics also reveal low drug resistance among pigs and poultry.

The latest statistics for antibiotic usage have revealed the amount of antibiotics sold for use on livestock to be at its lowest level since reporting began.

Published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to coincide with World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, the data uncovered progress in the livestock sector, but warned of future trends.

The UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Report found that antibiotic sales for food-producing animals had remained at a steady 59 per cent reduction since records began in 2014. Antibiotics considered of critical importance to human health were at extremely low levels, consisting of just half a per cent of total sales.

This progress in reducing antibiotic use in farming sectors has also led to progress in reducing drug resistance, with AMR in pigs and poultry at an all-time low.

However, the report also identified increases in antibiotic use in some sectors. Researchers warn that, without continued antibiotic stewardship efforts, these trends could lead to AMR increasing again.

This report marks 10 years of the VMD collecting data on pigs and poultry in the harmonised monitoring programme.

It is the first time the report has included information about AMR in sheep and cattle. The VMD hopes that this baseline data will help form a better understanding of AMR in livestock.

It also begins to address a key commitment in the UK’s National Action Plan on AMR by tackling data gaps in antibiotic use and resistance.

The VMD says that monitoring antibiotic use is vital to tackling AMR, which threatens human and animal health, food security and economic growth. It references estimates that more than 39 million deaths between now and 2050 will be linked to bacterial AMR.

It hopes that the data from the report will encourage more in the farming sector to build upon progress.

Abi Seager, VMD CEO, said: “The VMD has been publishing antibiotic sales, use and resistance data for the UK’s animal population for over a decade and the positive trends demonstrate the dedication of the UK’s farmers and vets to ensure responsible antibiotic use in animals.
 
“I am especially proud of our AMR surveillance programme which continues to expand and become more robust.

“This year also marks the launch of the 2024-2029 AMR National Action Plan, and I look forward to seeing renewed ambition from the veterinary and agriculture sectors as they set new targets through RUMA’s Targets Task Force next year.”

The full report can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
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.