The UK pig sector has been tasked with a headline further 20% reduction in antibiotic usage between 2025 and 2028 under the third round of antibiotic targets.
Recently-released figures, using data collected using the electronic Medicine Book (eMB), showed the UK pig sector recorded a slight increase in antibiotic use in 2024 to 86 mg/PCU, up from 85mg/PCU in 2023 and the low of 72mg/PCU in 2022.
Despite this increase, overall antibiotic use has still declined by 18% since 2020, the period of the second round of antibiotic targets. It remains at less than a third of the usage recorded in 2015, since when the figure has declined by 69%.
RUMA Agriculture’s Targets Task Force 3 (TTF3) said the industry representatives involved in setting the targets took into account the 18% antibiotic reduction during the TTF2 period from 2020 to 2024 and the guidance from Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) that targets need to be ‘smart yet ambitious’.
The targets also factor in the current challenges that the pig sector faces due to the ban on the use of zinc oxide in weaned pig diets and the ongoing pig health issues caused by swine dysentery.
The TT3 targets include maintaining highest priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIA) use at under 0.1 mg/PCU between 2025 and 2028. The 2024 figure remained at a very low level, despite a slight increase from 0.007 mg/PCU in 2023 to 0.009 mg/PCU.
The targets also expand the TTF2 initiative on supporting ‘persistently high users’ of antibiotics. Currently applying to the top 5% users of each category each quarter, based on rolling 12-month figures, this will Increase to the top 10% moving forwards.
Other targets include:
- Continuing to move from in-feed to in-water administration between 2025 and 2028, as measured via eMB data. In-feed use has declined over TTF2 and the sector will build on this during TTF3.
- Utilising abattoir inspection data (Collection and Communication of Inspection Results, CCIR) to identify farms with specific carcase condemnations for further investigation by the farm vet. A pilot is in place and this data will be used by the end 2026.
- Engaging vets and producers in actively measuring and improving biosecurity. AHDB Pork has already acquired 50 Biocheck user accounts for vet practices to use. The measure will be the number of producers enrolled on Biocheck over the course of TTF3.
Building on achievements
TTF3 targets have been set across all sectors. RUMA Agriculture Chair, Cat McLaughlin, says: “As the TTF group enters its 9th official year in existence, there is much to be praised with what has been achieved to date including a 57% reduction in the use of antibiotics across UK livestock sectors and HP-CIA use is down by 83%.
“TTF3 continues to grow on these achievements and represents commitments from each livestock sector from 2025 – 2029 in line with the Government’s AMR National Action Plan.”
“It should be noted that there are several key factors that can affect the journey of the targets. For some sectors, sustainable levels of use may already have been reached and targets are being held from TTF2; this isn’t about being complacent, but there is a need for realism and understanding that in some cases, the journey ahead will be about maintenance of low use rather than pushing for further reductions which could have a detrimental impact on animal welfare.
“Vaccine availability has been and remains a challenge for some sectors and has the potential to affect antibiotic use moving forwards.
“RUMA Agriculture is pleased to see the recent publication of the Statement of Intent on UK Veterinary Vaccine Availability, by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) which has demonstrated a commitment to working alongside the agriculture sector to support farmers having access to the vaccines they need.”
Defra minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock, said: “We know that AMR is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time and it’s not just a national issue, it’s a global threat that jeopardises human health, animal health, food security, economic stability and our ability to achieve our international sustainable development goals.
“But tackling AMR requires a one health approach, both domestically and globally, and that means that every sector – that’s human, animal and environment, has a role to play.”