New online recording for pig farmers in antibiotics resistance battle

Pig farmers are being told to keep an online record of the antibiotics they use on their herds every three months in a bid to chart for the first time how producers are reacting to the global drive to cut use of the drugs.
Red Tractor pig farmers are already take a sensible approach to the use of antibiotics in their herds, according to Red Tractor's Mike Sheldon.Red Tractor pig farmers are already take a sensible approach to the use of antibiotics in their herds, according to Red Tractor's Mike Sheldon.
Red Tractor pig farmers are already take a sensible approach to the use of antibiotics in their herds, according to Red Tractor's Mike Sheldon.

Farmers who comply with high welfare standards under the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme are compelled to adopt the new practice so that data can be used to help propose realistic reduction targets for the sector.

The whole agricultural sector, co-ordinated industry alliance RUMA, is working towards lower use of antibiotics in order to protect their long-term effectiveness in humans, and farm vets have recently achieved a ten per cent reduction in their use.

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A global effect is being made to cut antibiotic use in both animals and humans to slow down the rise of resistance which is being driven by excess use and prescribing of the drugs.

According to NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), resistance is rising to such an extent that cures may become unavailable for infection if they continue to be used irresponsibly.

The government’s chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has previously warned that the rate at which antibiotics are losing their effectiveness is “both alarming and irreversible - similar to global warming”.

To record the progress being made in the pig sector, industry group AHDB Pork has launched an online electronic medicine book (e-MB).

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Mike Sheldon, Red Tractor’s sector chairman for pigs, said: “Red Tractor farmers currently administer antibiotics as little as possible but as much as is required. The e-MB will provide that data to demonstrate this point to government and its agencies.”

He added: “We appreciate that this will be new to most producers but electronic data will help the pig industry to play its part in tackling antimicrobial resistance - an issue which affects all livestock farmers.”

Red Tractor pig producers are required to upload their antibiotic use for quarter two - April to June - and quarter three - July to September - by November 1 to ensure compliance.