Beef Cattle

Snapshot

• Following an extensive consultation, recommendations for measuring and comparing the use of antibiotics on beef farms were published in February 2020 on the Cattle Health and Welfare Group (CHAWG) Antimicrobial Use subgroup.
• While the beef sector set a target of a 10% reduction or reaching 10 mg/kg by 2020, whichever is lower, in the 2017 Targets Task Force report, lack of data meant this could not be measured.
• Recognising the significant issues with data collection, work was undertaken in the cattle and sheep sectors to explore what a similar industry tool to the electronic-Medicine Book for pigs could look like for their respective industries. Following an initial pilot project with cattle in 2018, a second phase of work on a Medicines Hub was commissioned, this time for both cattle and sheep data. The aim is to capture: national sector level reporting of antibiotic use in line with ESVAC methodology; farm level data for identification of trends in how antibiotics are being used and to facilitate benchmarking within and between farms. The Medicine Hub is being launched by AHDB in January 2021.
• However, other targets were met, including a halving in sales of injectable HP CIA products by 2020, and a number of targets on training and engagement.
• For more detail on the beef sector targets, please refer to the Targets Task Force Report 2020.
• For case studies, inspiration and technical tools to help farmers and vets reduce, replace or refine antibiotic use, visit the Ideas Hub.

News Updates

New antibiotic targets released for the UK livestock sectors

23 Nov 2020

New Mycoplasma vaccine halves calf mortality

26 Aug 2020

Recommendations for measuring and comparing the use of antibiotics on beef farms published

17 Feb 2020

Beef sector launches consultation on best metrics to use to measure antibiotic use

26 Jul 2019

New report shows progress towards achieving farm antibiotic targets

18 Nov 2018

Use of vaccines in cattle increases as antibiotics fall – new AHDB report

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

RUMA publishes position on feeding waste milk to calves

01 Aug 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

Livestock farmers urged to use correct injection sites

13 Jun 2018

Food report from pressure groups misleads on antibiotics

19 Apr 2018

#ColostrumIsGold campaign aims to slash antibiotic use

29 Jan 2018

Initiatives

Beef sector launches consultation on best metrics to use to measure antibiotic use

Jul 2019

Use of vaccines in cattle increases as antibiotics fall – new AHDB report

Nov 2018

Campaign aims to remind prescribers and farmers that #VaccinesWork

Sep 2018

#ColostrumIsGold campaign aims to slash antibiotic use

Jan 2018

British Cattle Vets position statement on use on antibiotics in dairy & beef sectors – BCVA

Aug 2017

AMR Force project from University of Bristol

Jul 2017

Useful Organisations