“UK pig farms: 50% less antibiotic usage in 2 years”
As the biannual Pig & Poultry Fair has kicked off in the United Kingdom, the news broke that the British pig industry has reduced antibiotic usage by 28% in 2017, bringing the total reduction in 2 years to more than 50%.
A press release communicated by the country’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) pointed to the latest data taken from the electronic medicine book (eMB), which represents 87% of pigs slaughtered in the UK. In this group, antibiotic usage on pig farms dropped from 183 mg/PCU to 131 mg/PCU within 12 months.
The 2017 reduction means the pig industry has more than halved its antibiotic usage within the last 2 years – with the latest figure building on a 34% cut in usage between 2015 and 2016.
Source: Pig Progress
