Use of antibiotics in food production has remained at a record low, according to the latest government data.
Sales of veterinary antibiotics for use in food-producing animals decreased by 2% since 2023 and 57% since 2014, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate said in its latest report.
The government hailed the overall findings in the Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance & Sales Surveillance report as positive news for public health, food security and the economy, and said they reflected sustained efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in farming.
“This year’s report shows that through the ongoing hard work of vets and farmers across the UK we can make real progress in the fight against AMR,” said the VMD’s CEO Abi Seager. “Overall use of antibiotics in livestock remains at its lowest level and importantly use of the most critical antibiotics for human health remains extremely low.”
She added its surveillance programmes were also showing an “encouraging picture” of AMR reduction.
Despite sectors such as trout and salmon showing record lows, some sectors, including pigs and gamebirds, continue to see upticks in antibiotic use.
Explaining the rise in antibiotic usage in the UK pig sector, the Pig Health & Welfare Council’s Antimicrobial Usage Subgroup said there were multiple challenges in 2024 which may have increased their need, including the withdrawl of treatments, vaccine availability issues and enteric disease challenges.
The subgroup continued to say the sector was focused on reducing use further, but that it was important that antibiotics were still available when necessary.
The sector is expected to renew efforts with new four-year targets, including improving biosecurity on farms to reduce the need to use antibiotics and reducing the use of in-feed medication to enable more targeted administration.
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Similar uses of antibiotics were tracked in gamebird and poultry treatment with the control of enteric infections through antibiotics.
Salmon Scotland said the reduction in the use of antibiotics in farmed salmon reflected the improvements it saw in fish health and survival.
“We’ll keep driving usage down while keeping our fish healthy, giving consumers at home and abroad full confidence in Scottish salmon,” said Dr Iain Berrill, head of technical at trade body Salmon Scotland. “Other countries will have their own challenges, but here in Scotland our focus is on strong fish health, transparency and responsible practice.”
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