Progress by Sector: Pigs

Snapshot

• The UK pig sector set a target of reaching 99mg/kg use by 2020; this is a reduction of 62% on the base year of 2015, where usage was originally estimated at 263.5mg/kg.
• 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
• On-farm antibiotic usage data from 2015 onwards started to be uploaded onto the industry’s centralised database known as eMB-Pigs (run by AHDB).
• In 2016, overall usage in the pig sector fell 34% in one year, to 183mg/PCU. Use of colistin, a critically important antibiotic, fell by more than 70% in pigs from an already low level.
• In 2017, records for 90% 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.
• In 2017, use of HP-CIAs as a whole was 0.1mg/kg in the UK pig sector. Fluoroquinolone use was 0.07mg/kg; 3rd/4th generation cephalosporin use was 0.01mg/kg; and colistin use was 0.01mg/kg.
• An update on progress against specific targets was published in November 2018, with a summary of progress in pigs as follows:

• In May 2019, the pig sector announced its 2018 usage figures, which took overall use down to 110mg/kg, a 60% reduction in use
• The 2018 usage data confirmed that the use of critically important antibiotics (CIAs) had also seen a decrease, as their use was recorded at 0.06 mg/kg of which, colistin represented only 0.004 mg/kg, which is around 2.5kg in total.
• 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

Pig council report shows progress in pig health and welfare and antibiotic stewardship

09 Jul 2019

UK pig sector announces further reductions in antibiotic use

30 May 2019

New report shows progress towards achieving farm antibiotic targets

18 Nov 2018

RUMA confirms position on ‘antibiotic-free’ labelling

08 Oct 2018

Campaign aims to remind prescribers and farmers that #VaccinesWork

11 Sep 2018

FSA publishes survey of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria in chicken and pork

05 Sep 2018

Interim report gives picture of progress towards farming’s antibiotic targets

27 Jul 2018

UK farming triple winner at Public Health England’s Antibiotic Guardian awards

28 Jun 2018

UK pig sector halves antibiotic use in two years

18 May 2018

Food report from pressure groups misleads on antibiotics

19 Apr 2018

#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

Pig council report shows progress in pig health and welfare and antibiotic stewardship

Jul 2019

UK pig sector announces further reductions in antibiotic use

May 2019

Campaign aims to remind prescribers and farmers that #VaccinesWork

Sep 2018

#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