Beef Cattle

Snapshot

• The UK beef sector has identified meaningful objectives for reducing, replacing or refining antibiotic use.
• One of the biggest challenges is availability of data to indicate what current usage is; however, the sector is estimated to be a relatively low user, albeit with ‘hotspots’, such as in calf rearing and youngstock, and especially with respiratory disease. For this reason, adequate data collection is a major target.
• However, the sector has set a target of a 10% reduction or reaching 10mg/kg by 2020, whichever is lower. The sector will also aim to halve use of the highest priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HP-CIAs) by 2020.
• 2017 usage data from a small  sample of cattle comprising 6% of the national beef herd has been reported as 19mg/kg, with HP-CIAs at 0.3mg/kg.
• The sector has also identified that monitoring uptake of preventative measures, such as vaccinations for respiratory disease, could provide a useful indicator of potential antibiotic reduction. A new vaccination report from AHDB shows that vaccination levels in cattle are increasing.
• An update on progress against specific targets was published in November 2018, with a summary of progress in cattle as follows:

Update July 2019

• A new consultation has been launched to determine which of four options will provide the most effective and practical measure of antibiotic use in the beef sector. The four options have been developed by the antimicrobial use sub group of the Cattle Health and Welfare Group, with the consultation open until 23 August 2019. Consultation documents and a webinar link can be found at www.chawg.org.uk, and the press release about the consultation can be found here.
• For more detail on the beef 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

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

Industry task force announces new sector-specific targets

27 Oct 2017

Record low for sales of antibiotics for use in animals

27 Oct 2017

New Red Tractor antibiotic rules outlined

28 Jul 2017

RUMA response to new Soil Association campaign

07 Mar 2017

British cattle vets recommend voluntary clampdown on antibiotic use

24 Jan 2017

Million-pound investment to benefit beef industry efficiency

09 Nov 2016

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