Progress by Sector: Pig Production

Snapshot

• On-farm antibiotic usage data from 2015 onwards has been uploaded onto the industry’s centralised database known as eMB-Pigs (run by AHDB).
• From October 2017, pig producers must upload farm usage figures to eMB on a quarterly basis.
• National data collected from the UK’s major feed compounders indicate that at the beginning of 2014, 37% of all feed for young pigs contained a prescribed antibiotic; this had more than halved to 18% by the end of 2016.
• In 2016, overall usage in the pig sector fell 34% in one year, to 183mg/PCU. Use of colistin, a critically important antibiotic, in pigs had been previously reported to have fallen by more than 70%, from an already low level.

Source: VARSS 2016

• In 2017, records for 92% of the pigs going for slaughter had been added to the eMB, and showed usage had fallen again – this time by 28% to 131mg/PCU. This means use in the pig sector has halved in two years.
• The pig sector also identified meaningful objectives for reducing, replacing or refining antibiotic use in October 2017.
• They include reducing the use of antibiotics by more than 60% between 2015 and 2020, to reach less than 100mg/PCU by the end of 2020.
• It is proposed that no specific targeted reduction in use of highest-priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HP-CIAs) should be set. Usage is already very low at 0.1mg/PCU (2017 figure). It is anticipated that the low level of use across the industry will not rise above levels of 0.1mg/PCU for fluoroquinolones and 0.015mg/PCU
  for third/fourth generation cephalosporins – subject to disease control requirements and to ensure health and welfare. Colistin should however remain available in case of serious disease issues, for which its
  use is vital, arising. A maximum use target of 0.1mg/PCU will provide for the necessary reserve position but this may need to be reviewed depending on the ongoing availability of therapeutic Zinc Oxide in the EU.
• For more detail on the pig sector targets, please refer to the Targets Task Force Report.
• For case studies, inspiration and technical tools to help farmers and vets reduce, replace or refine antibiotic use, visit the Ideas Hub.

News Updates

#ColostrumIsGold campaign aims to slash antibiotic use

29 Jan 2018

WHO guidelines on antimicrobials spark debate

10 Nov 2017

What the new antibiotic targets mean for the pig sector – Pig World

10 Nov 2017

Antibiotic use in pigs – an update by David Burch: Pig Progress

10 Nov 2017

Industry task force announces new sector-specific targets

27 Oct 2017

Record low for sales of antibiotics for use in animals

27 Oct 2017

It’s good to talk about our antibiotic challenges – Pig World

05 Oct 2017

New Red Tractor antibiotic rules outlined

28 Jul 2017

Scientific breakthrough in farming could alleviate human antibiotics time bomb

09 Jun 2017

Colistin use in pig sector falls by over 70%

02 Jun 2017

Halving of in-feed antibiotics in young pigs shows pig industry responding to resistance concerns

03 Mar 2017

RUMA response to FSA review of MRSA risk, published 28 February

02 Mar 2017

RUMA response to report that colistin prescriptions for humans have increased

02 Mar 2017

Red Tractor pig farmers to record antibiotic data online

20 Feb 2017

Red Tractor proposed changes on antibiotic use to reflect best practice advice from RUMA

22 Dec 2016

Targeted treatment slashes long term use of antibiotics on pig units – case study

29 Nov 2016

‘Encouraging’ results on antibiotic use on pigs – Farmers Weekly

27 Nov 2016

Pig industry stepping up to the antibiotic challenge – NPA

16 Nov 2016

NPA – UK Pig Industry fully committed to addressing AMR

19 Sep 2016

Initiatives

#ColostrumIsGold campaign aims to slash antibiotic use

Jan 2018

Pig Veterinary Society prescribing principles

Aug 2017

British Pig Health Scheme

Aug 2017

The Biennial Pig Health and Welfare Council Report, 2015-2016

Jul 2017

The Real Welfare Report

Jul 2017

AHDB Pork E-Medicine Book

Jul 2017

NPA: Pig Industry Antibiotic Stewardship Programme

Jul 2017

Useful Organisations