| Sheep & Lambing
Sheep industry supports responsible use of
antibiotics at lambing time
With newborn lambs appearing around the UK, a message of responsible antibiotic use is being promoted to sheep
vets and sheep farmers. The National Sheep Association (NSA) and Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS), support by the
Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance, has called for targeted use to ensure the immediate and
long-term health and welfare of flocks.
n letters to the Veterinary
Record and Veterinary Times, a
joint industry group has
reminded vets of the
importance of only treating
lambs that need intervention,
rather than automatically dosing all lambs ‘to
be on the safe side’. This message to vets
coincides with the RUMA #ColostrumIsGold
campaign promoting the ‘liquid gold’ properties
of colostrum for newborn animals and reducing
the need for antibiotics.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says:
“British sheep farmers pride themselves on
high health and welfare standards in their
flocks, and so it is essential that certain ewes
and lambs are treated with antibiotics at
lambing time. Not doing so could lead to
I
unnecessary suffering and losses. However, to
preserve the efficacy of medicines in the long
term, the historical approach taken on some
farms of blanket treating all lambs is not
appropriate.”
Mr Stocker is one of the signatories on the
letter, alongside Iain Richards (SVS President)
and SVS members who are keen for all sheep
vets to access the recently published SVS
Good Practice Guidelines. The letters have
been coordinated by the Sheep Health and
Welfare Group (SHAWG) and the sheep sector
representatives on the RUMA Targets Task
Force, who are Leicestershire sheep farmer and
SHAWG Chairman Charles Sercombe, and
sheep vet Fiona Lovatt.
Dr Lovatt says: “Our principle concern is the
number of neonatal lambs that have historically
been given a prophylactic dose of antibiotic.
However, we are also concerned about
anecdotal reports of the use of medicines that
are not licensed for use in sheep. Vets are in
the privileged position of being allowed to
prescribe medicines under the veterinary
cascade, but the use of any product that is not
authorised for sheep must be fully justified and
have clearly auditable, clinical evidence.”
Mr Sercombe concludes: “While the sheep
sector may present one of the lowest risks and
be one of the lowest users of antibiotics, there
are steps we can all take – sheep vets, animal
health advisors and farmers – without any
negative effect on health or performance, but
helping to protect the efficacy of antibiotics for
the future.”
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