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Antibiotics

Richard Lister highlights pig sector antibiotic progress as part of RUMA campaign

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverMay 2, 20233 Mins Read
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Yorkshire pig producer and former NPA chairman Richard Lister has highlighted the progress the pig sector has made in measuring and reducing antibiotic usage in recent years. 

Mr Lister was interviewed as part of RUMA’s (the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) social media campaign focusing on the responsible use of antibiotics in the pig sector. Over the coming weeks, in the third of RUMA’s Sector In Focus ‘digital campaigns’, it will showcase best practice case studies and stories on a dedicated part of its website and across its social media channels.

Mr Lister, who operates three pig breeding units, was NPA Chair for six years from 2015, and remains part of the RUMA Targets Task Force (TTF), playing a key role in co-ordinating the setting of antibiotic reduction targets for the pig sector.

eMB-Pigs data published by AHDB for 2021 shows that antibiotic usage for the pig sector was 87mg/PCU in 2021, 17% down on the previous year which equates to an overall reduction of 69% since 2015.

Reflecting on the start of the sector’s stewardship journey, he said: “ With the publication of the O’Neill report in 2016 and the messages and recommendations contained within it, the pig industry recognised it needed to review its use of antibiotics and reduce where appropriate; specifically it needed to focus on minimising the use of those antibiotics classed as Highest Priority Critically Important (HP-CIAs).

“As a food producer, the sector has a key role to play in reducing AMR, not least to maintain the efficacy of antibiotics in human health , but also in animal health.

“What makes me incredibly proud is how the sector took on the challenge with such positivity and intent to make a positive change. And the headlines so far speak for themselves. The industry has voluntarily achieved a 69% reduction over a period of seven years, and has taken the use of the Highest Priority Critically Important antibiotics to negligible levels.”

  • You can read the full interview HERE

RUMA campaign

Also featured on the site is an interview with NPA chief policy adviser Rebecca Veale, who shares more detail on the sector’s successful antibiotic stewardship programme, alongside articles featuring Red Tractor, AHDB, the Pig Health and Welfare Group and the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, all talking about antibiotics in the pig sector.

Ms Veale said there is room for further reduction in usage, but said this is likely to be limited after the huge reductions seen so far.

“It’s only natural that reductions slow down so I don’t think we’ll see any further big drops, although that is very much dependent on the resources we have available to prevent and treat disease.

“We will reach a level which is sustainable for the sector, and the eMB-Pigs data will be pivotal in helping us understand when we’re at that level,” she said.

“But there will be ups and downs because usage will always depend on the needs of the animals under veterinary care; if there is a disease issue then usage may increase to address this, and that is right and responsible to protect animal welfare.”

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Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

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