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.

WLBP general manager, Iestyn Tudur-Jones, said: “The data gathering process requires minimal input by farmers. It can be done as part of their annual health and welfare review, and no additional record keeping will be needed.

“To help farmers and vets, WLBP has developed an antimicrobial (AMU) calculator to gather and standardise data, as well as a new website specifically for this purpose. The livestock sector needs this data to evidence responsible use of antibiotics on Welsh farms.”

AMR is classed as a global ‘One Health’ challenge, and both UK and Welsh GgAnimals and the Environment Implementation Plan (2019-2024) aims to significantly reduce the need to use antimicrobials in farmed animals by raising the health status of herds and flocks and collecting and measuring antimicrobial usage information for each major farmed animal species in Wales.

However, WLBP is concerned that failure to persuade government farmers are using antibiotics responsibly could lead to some very important medicines becoming unavailable, and so gathering data is vital.

Mr Tudur-Jones said: “We believe that farmers are using antibiotics responsibly, but we need the evidence to verify that assertion.

"This process, based on vets and farmers working together, will take us far down that road. We need to be proactive in persuading government and consumers that Welsh farmers are acting conscientiously when using farm medicines.”

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “The Welsh livestock sector has made great strides in recent years in reducing our usage of antibiotics and is testament to the efforts of farmers and vets working in partnership on such an important matter.”

“The antimicrobial usage calculator platform developed by WLBP will be an additional tool to help provide an accurate and reliable measurement of antibiotic use in Welsh livestock – including critically important ones.”

He added: “It will be a tool to validate and further enhance consumer confidence in Welsh meat and milk and our work in reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance for the benefit of both animal and human health.”

Ruminant health and welfare group vice-chairman Gwyn Jones said: ‘It’s good to see Wales taking the lead with FAWL members being able to collate antibiotic use using Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers AMU calculator in conjunction with their vets; a positive step in our continued quest towards responsible use.

“Our claims to be leading in this field needs the evidence when it comes to ruminants (sheep, beef and dairy) and this is the first step in measuring each farm and bench-marking usage.”

Ian Lloyd, Farmers’ Union of Wales Animal Health and Welfare Committee Chairman, said: “The introduction of the WLBP AMU calculator – which calculates total antibiotic usage using livestock numbers and weights and antibiotics purchased – into the FAWL scheme standards will generate a national baseline for assured Welsh livestock farmers.

“They will have ownership of their data to use as a benchmarking tool and for the industry to demonstrate its efforts towards reducing antibiotic use and tackling antimicrobial resistance.”