Pig producers are being urged to submit antibiotic data onto the eMB-Pigs database ahead of changes to Red Tractor rules coming into effect in less than two months.
To remain compliant with Red Tractor pork scheme rules, antibiotic usage for quarters two (April-June) and three (July-September) of this year must be entered onto the database by November 11.
Antibiotic data for 2015 and 2016 representing 70% of England’s pig production has already been entered into eMB over the last 12 months. This figure is now expected to rise with the eMB one of a number of additions to Red Tractor pig standards this autumn.
AHDB has been supporting vets and producers with using eMB since its launch in May 2016, but is advising that, while help is still available, it could be restricted if large volumes of enquires come in close to the Red Tractor deadline.
Kate Ward, AHDB Pork’s veterinary manager, said: “We are here to help, but producers are urged to submit their data as early as possible, to ensure they are happy and familiar with the process giving time for any problems to be resolved before the November deadline.”
Red Tractor assessors will need to view the data during inspection visits, so where producers rely on their vet or other third party to enter the data, they are reminded to keep a printed copy available on farm.
Richard Bows, AHDB knowledge exchange manager said: “We’ve been on lots of units training on eMB and typically producers find that inputting the data is pretty quick and straight forward. They love the graphs and seeing where usage can be reviewed. They realise that recording will need to become a routine task under Red Tractor, but see that eMB will definitely aid good business decisions.”
Capturing antibiotic use electronically in this way allows producers to demonstrate the actions our industry is taking to preserve antibiotics for use in both animal and human medicine, AHDB Pork said.
eMB support and advice from AHDB
For helpful resources including videos and a printable user guide go to https://pork.ahdb.org.uk/
If you would like to speak to AHDB about your eMB entry, please contact it at:
Tel: 0844 335 8400 (Mon-Fri 0900-1700)
Email: pighub@ahdb.org.uk (Mon-Fri 0900-1700)
Or use the contact form in Pig Hub