AHDB’s Animal Health & Welfare Scientist, Jenny Newman, has won the Antibiotic Guardian Award for Animal Health, Agriculture and Food Supply.
The Antibiotic Guardian Shared Learning & Awards event champions organisations and individuals who have demonstrated achievements in tackling antimicrobial resistance at a local, regional, or national level.
Ms Newman presented a poster outlining AHDB’s work on the electronic Medicines Book (eMB) for the pig sector, including a mention of Medicine Hub. The electronic medicine book for pigs (eMB-Pigs) is a website for all UK pig producers. It enables the pig sector to record more accurate on-farm antibiotic usage data.
AHDB’s Health and Welfare team’s work on electronic recording of antibiotic use via eMB has led to a significant reduction of 69% in the UK pig herd since 2015. Winning this award is a significant achievement, not just for Ms Newman but also for AHDB’s Health and Welfare team.
Ms Newman said: “I am thrilled to announce that our project won the Animal Health, Agriculture and Food Supply category at the Antibiotic Guardian awards ceremony in London. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the AHDB Animal Health and Welfare team and the industry as a whole. I am truly grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this project, especially the pig producers who tirelessly inputted their data into eMB-pigs and worked closely with their vets to achieve significant reductions. This award reflects our shared commitment to sustainable agriculture, and I couldn’t be prouder. Thank you once again to all involved for making this achievement possible.”
Antimicrobial Resistance is a One Health problem, and it is important to be able to demonstrate that the food-producing sectors are using antibiotics responsibly. AHDB’s success in reducing antibiotic use through electronic recording is a great example of how the industry can play its part in tackling this critical issue.