Dairy farming groups have launched a new industry-wide Antimicrobial Stewardship Group, which will set targets on antibiotic use, and develop a strategy for moving towards these targets. However, antibiotics campaigners have said more fundamental changes are needed to curb use in the sector.

The Stewardship Group brings together members of the farming, processing, veterinary and other ancillary industries, and promises to identify the responsibilities and actions required of different organisations to achieve the targets and monitor progress. The group’s actual targets are due to be announced in October.

The government has set an average national target for antibiotic use on-farm of 50mg/kg by 2018, though each livestock sector is developing its own objectives through a ‘Targets Task Force’ set up by industry-led drugs group RUMA.
 
The dairy sector’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Group is being chaired by Di Wastenage, Devon dairy farmer and Council member for the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF). On Friday, Mrs Wastenage said, “Antibiotic use is of growing importance given concerns over antibiotic resistance. The formation of the group is important to deliver the strategy and will ensure the dairy sector is well-placed to reach its targets.

“Reducing the use of antibiotics must not compromise the health and welfare of dairy cows either, which is why a responsible approach to this challenge is needed. The strategy will also be an opportunity to improve the health and welfare of the dairy herd, and to raise productivity.”
 
Professional training for vets and farmers will form part of the Stewardship Group’s work. Mrs Wastenage added, “I’d like to thank all the organisations that have committed to participate in the group. The broad level of representation shows how important the issue is to the industry and I look forward to working with them over the next few years.”

Responding to the announcement, Coilin Nunan, scientific advisor to the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, said, ”We welcome the setting of antibiotic-reduction targets, as these have been shown to work well in other countries, and we hope that the new targets will be sufficiently ambitious to make a difference.

“In order to achieve reductions in use, the dairy industry should restrict dry-cow therapy to selective, non-blanket use, and to improving the health and welfare of dairy cows.”

The Alliance spokesperson added, “Long-term genetic selection for high milk yield is a major factor causing poor health and welfare, and is correlated with increasing incidence of mastitis, lameness and reproductive disorders, which are the major causes of antibiotic use in dairy cows. Genetic selection for improved health and longevity needs to be given more importance. Moves to more intensive, zero-grazing systems should be avoided as these are also linked with increased disease."