RUMA has welcomed the latest figures from the UK poultry meat sector which show it is sustaining and building on the progress it has made in the past six years to reduce, refine or replace antibiotic use on-farm.

According to the British Poultry Council’s latest Antibiotic Stewardship Report, the sector’s focus on excellence in bird health and welfare is delivering responsible use of antibiotics and safeguarding the efficacy of antibiotics across the supply chain.

According to the new report, the British poultry meat sector’s focus on excellence in bird health and welfare has helped achieve an 82 per cent reduction in the total use of antibiotics in the last six years (2012-2017), a 91 per cent reduction in the use of Fluoroquinolones in the last six years (2012-2017) and a 36 per cent reduction in the total use of antibiotics in the last year (2016-2017)

These results mean that use of antibiotics in both chickens and turkeys is now below the Government-approved sector specific targets developed by RUMA’s Targets Task Force (TTF), which is 25mg/PCU for chickens and 50mg/PCU for turkeys.

RUMA also fully supports the point made by BPC chairman John Reed, that: “Zero use is neither ethical nor sustainable as it goes against farmers’ duty to alleviate pain and suffering.”

Mr Reed added: “Farmers and veterinarians need antibiotics in their toolbox to preserve the health and welfare of our birds. Responsible use of antibiotics is about so much more than reduction targets.”