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New pig antibiotics to have biosecurity focus
There was an 18 per cent rise in pig sector antibiotic useage in 2023.

The sector aims to break the cycle that drives antibiotic use. 

Following a rise in antibiotic usage in 2024, the next round of pig sector antibiotics are being developed with a biosecurity focus.

Proposals for the Target Task Force (TTF3) are being created by the Pig Health and Welfare Council’s Antimicrobial Usage Subgroup. 

The proposals will be advanced by Yorkshire producer and former NPA chair, Richard Lister, representing producers, and Dr Alex Thomsett, from the George Pig Practice, on behalf of the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS).

Similar to Ruma’s Target Task Force (TTF2) for antibiotic stewardship in farming, the new targets will contain numerical and non-numerical objectives. These objectives will be presented at the NPA spring regional meetings and the PVS spring meeting to gather feedback.

Richard Lister said: “All sectors have been encouraged to show ambition in their objectives, and this will be particularly reflected in our numerical target.”

The 2024 eMB pig sector antibiotic usage data is not expect to be finalised until late spring. However, it is expected to surpass the TTF3 target, and follows an 18 per cent rise in pig sector antibiotic usage to 85 mg/PCU in 2023. 

This rise has been linked to a range of health challenges, including swine dysentery, post-weaning diarrhoea or oedema disease, following the phasing out of zinc oxide.

“To address this, it is likely that one of the non-numerical targets will focus on biosecurity, so the sector can break the cycle of infection that drives antibiotic use,” said Alex.

“While some respiratory diseases, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome [PRRS], can be acquired through aerosol transmission from neighbouring farms, many others, including swine dysentery, are more likely to enter a unit through a contaminated vehicle or other fomites.

“Addressing bio-exclusion on UK farms would prevent this cycle of disease spread and resultant antimicrobial use.”

Image (C) Shutterstock.

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.