Layers In the laying hen sector, 4.8 tonnes were used during 2019. Actual daily bird doses/100 bird days was 0.68%, represent- ing a 0.13% rise. The publication of the VMD report coincided with the launch of new goals, facilitated by the industry body Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA), which were set out in its “Targets Task Force Report 2020”. Cat McLaughlin, RUMA chair says the last set of targets had helped halve sales of antibiotics across the UK farm animal sector, taking the UK to have the fifth lowest usage in Europe, above only Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Ms McLaughlin says that with over 75% of original targets now achieved early or on track to be achieved by next month’s deadline, the time was right to “reset” in some sectors with refreshed challenges. Both the laying hens and poultry meat sectors met their 2016-2019 targets. The laying hen industry had to maintain less than 1% birds medicated/day and less than 0.05% HP-CIA days medicated. And the poultry meat industry had to reduce overall use in broilers to 25mg/kg or less and 50mg/kg in turkeys. “The UK farming industry has responded extremely well to the targets. Our original aim of lowering overall antibiotic use, and in particular HP-CIAs, has been categorically achieved in the face of some extremely challenging conditions,” she adds.
Correcting the wrongs
The time that using in-feed antibiotics as a pre- ventative measure against disease and as a guarantee for optimal growth, is bygone. How- ever, correcting the wrongs, intervening with antimicrobials in diseased flocks, is something that needs to be done. For economic reasons as well as for animal welfare reasons. The vast majority of treatments are initiated with poor litter quality as one of the main signs, as im- paired gut health often results in wet drop- pings. A flock that is diagnosed with bacterial enteritis, necrotic enteritis or dysbacteriosis needs treatment. Reduction of antibiotic usage therefore starts with the right mindset and in- terventions far before a flock encounters a dis- ease. Strengthening the immune system by us- ing the right non antibiotic additives, preventing feed changes and withdrawal and using the available vaccines at hand, are all tools that are available in the farmers toolbox. Instead of relying on one tool to correct the wrongs, antibiotic reduction needs a holistic approach that looks at, scores and corrects every facet of the inner workings of the animal.
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Targets Many of the new targets are focusing on the cattle, sheep and pig sectors, where reductions in antibiotic use have taken place but at a slower rate than in the poultry industry. For ex- ample, the pig sector is promoting best-practice guidelines to reduce post-weaning diarrhoea, a common cause of antibiot- ic use. Gamebird farmers and vets will be focusing on im- proved practices, research into disease and farm assurance. The poultry meat sector is joining the laying hen industry in opting to hold its current targets. Preventative use has been phased out completely in these sectors, meaning many ani- mals receive no antibiotic treatments at all in their lifetime. However, they do face new challenges due to changing pro- duction systems, disease threat and a warming climate, and will be focusing on managing these effectively through in- creased vaccine development and availability, surveillance and improved management practices. Professor Peter Borriel- lo, VMD chief executive, welcomed the RUMA report: “The ambition now outlined in this report, alongside the proactive, holistic approaches and focus on behaviour change principles gives me every confidence that they will once again succeed”. Details of the new RUMA targets, which were launched on Euro- pean Antibiotic Awareness Day (18 November) can be found at
www.ruma.org.uk/targets
Knowing and monitoring the inner workings of a bird is key in a holistic approach in reducing antimicrobial.
▶ GUT HEALTH | DECEMBER 2020
PHOTO: ANNE VAN DER WOUDE
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