Meat quality scheme tackles antibiotic use

Measuring antimicrobial use on farms is to become part of the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock Scheme (FAWL).

Welsh Lamb & Beef Producers Ltd (WLBP) – the farmer-controlled agricultural co-operative society that owns FAWL – is contacting its members to inform them of the change to the scheme’s standards.

From May 1, members will be asked to work with their veterinary surgeons to calculate the average amount of antibiotics used on the farm as part of the drive to tackle the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

WLBP is meeting the challenge by creating a software platform to collate and benchmark data on antibiotic usage across the beef, dairy, and sheep sectors. The result is expressed as milligrams of antibiotic used per kilogram of animal, a measurement accepted by government and supply chain alike