“Responsible”, the new monthly briefing from RUMA, bringing you the latest news and views in responsible use of medicines of interest to UK farming and One Health partners. Read here…
“Responsible”, the new monthly briefing from RUMA, bringing you the latest news and views in responsible use of medicines of interest to UK farming and One Health partners. Read here…
On 31 January, the Year 3 results were published of a survey to identify the proportion of Campylobacter isolated from the FSA’s UK retail chicken survey that were resistant to a range of antimicrobial agents.
The survey tested a subset of the Campylobacter isolates (Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains) from Year 3 of the UK retail chicken survey for AMR. Overall, the proportions of AMR Campylobacter isolates found in this study were similar to those reported in the previous survey year (July 2015 to July 2016), although the percentage of C. coli isolates with resistance to erythromycin was lower. Multi-drug resistance was similar to that found in the previous survey years. Read the press release here.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released a consultation on its updated scientific advice on the categorisation of antibiotics. This new classification includes all classes of antimicrobials and comprises four categories from A to D, each with a key action word attributed for more clarity.
The EMA’s Antimicrobial Advice ad hoc Expert Group (AMEG) monitors and evaluates the risks of using antibiotics in animals.It is the only agency to examine this in light of antimicrobial resistance developments in animals, the possible transmission of resistance to humans, and the availability of alternative treatments to safeguard animal welfare.
This proposed reclassification is of significant importance to the UK as the Veterinary Medicines Directorate follows the EMA’s guidance, and does RUMA and its members (with the exception of a few species-specific modifications).
Under the new proposals:
The deadline for comments on these proposals is 30 April. The document including the draft advice can be accessed here and we also have a Summary of the draft EMA AMEG guidelines.
An updated UK One Health report covering antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in animals and humans was released on 31 January. This long-awaited review showed how human and veterinary medicine in the UK has progressed since 2013 on the One Health challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
The last One Health report indicated that 45% of antibiotics in the UK were used to treat all animals. In 2017, this fell to 36%. Overall, 26% of total tonnes used in people and animals was specifically for food-producing animals. Furthermore, out of the total tonnes of highest priority Critically Important Antibiotics used to treat diseases in humans and animals, 22% was used in animals in 2013 and 11% in 2017.
The report also shows we are seeing a reduction in the level of resistance to critical antibiotics in zoonotic bacteria from food-producing animals and retail meat. RUMA’s response can be found here.
On 24 January, the government published its 20-year vision and 5-year national action plan for how the UK will contribute to containing and controlling AMR by 2040.
The plans include targets such as cutting the number of drug-resistant infections by 10% (5,000 infections) by 2025 and reducing the use of antibiotics in humans by 15%. Progress in the UK farm animal sector – namely reducing sales by 40% since 2013 – was acknowledged, as were existing plans to reduce, refine or replace antibiotic use up to 2020, which are anticipated to result in further overall reductions.
RUMA welcomed the strategy and confirmed that the voluntary, industry-led approach to refining antibiotic use was ‘alive and well’. The Government press release can be accessed here. Responses have also been issued by the British Veterinary Association and NOAH.
The Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) and two of the UK’s biggest integrated beef rearing businesses, ABP Blade Farming and Meadow Quality, have announced their support for RUMA’s #ColostrumIsGold campaign, which launches today (1 February).
It is hoped that by promoting messages through their supply chains, at auction marts and in remittances, the three organisations will be able to encourage more dairy farmers especially – as well as beef and sheep farmers – to understand the benefits of getting colostrum management right in the first few hours of life.
Cattle veterinary surgeon Tim Potter from Westpoint, who works with farms that rear calves for ABP Blade Farming, says: “Born without an immune system, newborn animals need to take antibodies on board through their mothers’ colostrum. But with their stomachs only able to absorb these antibodies for a short period, it’s estimated that 95% of dairy farms don’t manage to give that all-important feed within the ideal two-hour timeframe after birth.”
He says a combination of this and poor quality colostrum means that less than a third of calves currently receive sufficient immunity, and the whole supply chain is losing out as a result. “We have a great opportunity here to reduce the need for antibiotic treatments through improved health and immunity, but also to increase daily liveweight gain and reach service or finishing weights quicker.”
Matt Nightingale of Meadow Quality says that the dairy sector in particular has huge productivity gains to make by addressing an issue that most often just needs time and patience.
“The difference good colostrum management makes is startling. Calves that have had the right quantity of the right quality colostrum quickly enough are far more productive animals,” he explains.
“They put on weight better and have a far lower incidence of diseases such as scour or pneumonia. They also handle stress periods such as arrival on the farm and weaning far better, and that’s a big win for rearers and the dairy beef sector as a whole.”
Chris Dodds of the LAA is hoping his members can help get the message out through the posters and hand out leaflets in their 110 marts around England and Wales.
“Giving calves the best start means they have better, healthier lives and they create more income in the enterprise, whether they are for breeding or for meat. That’s why we’ll be encouraging our members to raise this issue with dairy and beef farmers, but also with sheep farmers as this issue very much affects lambs as well,” he explains.
The #ColostrumIsGold campaign will run throughout February and into March. This is the second time the campaign has run following its successful launch last year when it was widely adopted by the sheep sector, achieved a reach of almost a million over Twitter and won the communications category at Public Health England’s Antibiotic Guardian Awards.
A wide range of advice including technical guides and videos is available on the website www.colostrumisgold.org to support farmers and veterinary surgeons looking to review or improve practices.
People are also encouraged to share hints, tips and experiences via Twitter and through the website using the hashtag #ColostrumIsGold. A prize draw offering a range of products to suit beef, dairy, pig and sheep farmers will be held at the end of February and anyone posting or tweeting during February using the hashtag will be automatically entered. More information at www.colostrumisgold.org.
Please go to www.colostrumisgold.org for information, resources and prize rules.
Prize draw
The prize draw is offering the following prizes, subject to Terms and Conditions:
Calf colostrum facts
Research has shown that calves with low antibody levels are more likely to become ill or to die before weaning. Conversely, higher concentrations at 1-2 days of age are linked to better health, lower mortality and higher daily liveweight gain, with animals reaching target weights more quickly:
Sheep facts
Pigs facts