Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. August 2025
    2. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    3. July 2025
    4. June 2025
    5. 2025 Innovation supplement
    6. May 2025
    7. April 2025
    8. March 2025
    9. 2025 Buildings supplement
    10. February 2025
    11. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    12. January 2025
    13. December 2024
    14. November 2024
    15. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    16. October 2024
    17. September 2024
    18. August 2024
    19. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    20. July 2024
    21. June 2024
    22. 2024 Innovation supplement
    23. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    24. May 2024
    25. April 2024
    26. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    27. March 2024
    28. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    29. February 2024
    30. January 2024
    31. December 2023
    32. November 2023
    33. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    34. October 2023
    35. September 2023
    36. Health Supplement
    Featured

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025
    Recent

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Antibiotics

Antibiotic focus turns to ‘Persistently Higher Users’

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersMay 11, 20214 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The second phase of the UK pig sector’s antibiotic reduction targets will move beyond numerical targets to issues like supporting those identified as ‘Persistently High Users’ to reduce their usage. The NPA’s Rebecca Veale explains what this will entail

The first phase of antibiotic reduction targets was a huge success, with a 63% reduction in antibiotic usage on pig farms recorded from 2015 to mid-2020 on the eMB-Pigs recording system.

The Pig Health and Welfare Council Antimicrobial Usage Group (PHWC AMU) decided that for the second phase, whilst numerical targets were important, the other aspects of antibiotic reduction needed to be recognised. These targets were published in November as part of the RUMA Targets Task Force Report 2020.

AHDB publishes the eMB data annually but looks in-depth at the anonymised data to explore how and why antibiotics are used in the pig sector, which is why we know that the static antibiotic usage figure for 2019 was linked to the outbreaks of swine dysentery, according to NPA senior policy adviser Rebecca Veale.

While many producers are using low levels of antibiotics, there are still some producers unable to make reductions (responsibly) and this was a key focus area for the PHWC AMU. Consequently, one of the non-numerical targets is to encourage these ‘Persistently High Users’ (PHUs) to actively engage with solutions that reduce their reliance on antibiotics. The ultimate aim is to reduce the number of producers using significantly higher levels of antibiotic than the national average, Ms Veale, who sits on the PHWC AMU, explained.

“We knew we needed to work out a way to help those using a lot of antibiotics to try to make reductions where possible, and after a lot of deliberation we decided that an Antibiotic Reduction Plan or ARP, with actions and timescales for completion, would help producers and vets to work collaboratively on solutions,” she said.

Pig Sector Target 1

Target Details
Identify and support Persistently High Users (PHUs) in achieving reductions in use Implement a programme to support and encourage PHUs to undertake efforts to reduce antibiotic usage as detailed in a unit specific Antibiotic Reduction Plan agreed by producer and vet

 

“There are lots of suggestions and examples in the ARP but it is for the producer and vet to work through together. Actions could be big infrastructural improvements or training, the scale doesn’t really matter.

“While the action is important, we know it may not result in any antibiotic reductions. Ultimately the welfare of the pigs is the priority, but we hope the ARP will provide a good structure to explore the options.”

Rebecca Veale
Rebecca Veale

Who is a Persistently High User?

PHUs will be defined as the top 5% of antibiotic users in each of the main categories of production recorded by eMB, except Boar Studs and Gilt Units. The top 5% in each category will be calculated using the last four quarters’ rolling data.

How will I know if I am a PHU?

Producers will be notified that they are a PHU when they submit their usage data for the current quarter on eMB and the unit vet will see this on the front page of the eMB report when they are confirming that this has been completed at their Quarterly vet visit.

The top 10% of producers will be notified they fall into the top 10% over the last four quarters as an early warning system.

What does an Antibiotic Reduction Plan include?

The PHWC AMU has put together the template for the Antibiotic Reduction Plan, and it includes,

Section 1

Record usage from the start of the plan, documenting the progress over time and include a target to aim to achieve.

Section 2

Vets will collate those antibiotics that make a significant contribution to total usage and reasons for use to help to prioritise and target areas of concern.  This section will also include diagnostics, practical constraints and interventions already implemented.

Section 3

Identify and agree intervention to reduce antibiotic use. These actions might include elements such as staff training, internal and external biosecurity practices, diagnostics or management practices.

Is this part of Red Tractor?

In December 2020 the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme consulted on a proposed new requirement in the Red Tractor Pig Standards that assured farms identified as being PHUs must develop and implement an Antibiotic Reduction Plan. The new requirement, if approved, will be implemented from November 1, 2021.

  • This article was taken from the May issue of Pig World magazine which you can subscribe to here.
Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleUS-UK trade deal must accept our science-based production standards
Next Article Pig World – May 2021
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

AHDB reports that English red meat sector contributed £5.5bn to UK economy in 2023

August 28, 2025

Morgan sisters’ Iron Will challenge

August 28, 2025

Government details how upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers

August 28, 2025
Latest News

AHDB reports that English red meat sector contributed £5.5bn to UK economy in 2023

August 28, 2025

Morgan sisters’ Iron Will challenge

August 28, 2025

Government details how upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers

August 28, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1757 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1759 North Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.