New guidance to help pig producers reduce their use of antimicrobials has been produced by the Pig Health and Welfare Council Antimicrobial Sub-group and the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS).
“We support the responsible use of antibiotics,” said sub-group chairman John FitzGerald. “This means minimising the need to use antibiotics by managing the farm to reduce the risk of disease challenge and using them properly to maintain animal health and welfare.”
He also said that the launch of the new guidance was designed to help vets and farmers to review their antibiotic use regularly and to consider ways in which this could be optimised without harming the pigs.
PVS representative on the sub-group Grace Webster added that the society acknowledged that many vets and farmers were already applying “best practice guidelines” in their review of antibiotic usage.
“This is an integral part of their ongoing efforts to use antibiotics ‘as little as possible and as much as necessary’ to safeguard the health and welfare of the pigs under their care,” she said. “We encourage all of our members, however, to consider whether they can improve their current approach.”