Reducing antibiotic use on sheep farms at lambing time through best practice management, by improving nutrition and hygiene

Geographical location	United Kingdom
Main geographical location (NUTS3)	Isle of Anglesey
Keywords	Agricultural production system Farming practice Animal husbandry and welfare Pest / disease control
Additional keywords	animal health animal welfare feed reduce antibiotic use
Main funding source	Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)
Project type	Operational group
Starting date	2017
End date	2018
Project status	Ongoing

Title (in English):

Objective of the project (native language):

Mae’r baich o heintiau gydag ymwrthedd gwrthficrobaidd yn cynyddu ledled y byd ac yn fygythiad difrifol i iechyd anifeiliaid a phobl. Mae’r prosiect hwn yn datblygu ymhellach ar yr ymchwil fydd yn newid arferion rheoli’r diadell, trwy wella maeth a hylendid yn bennaf, ac y gallai leihau’r angen am wrthfiotigau ond yn cynyddu cynhyrchiant ac yn cadw safon uchel o iechyd a lles anifeiliaid ar yr un pryd. Mae hefyd yn darparu cyflenwad bwyd iach a diogel mewn cyfnod o bryderu fod anifeiliaid cynhyrchu bwyd yn cyfrannu at ddatblygiad ymwrthedd pobl i wrthfiotigau.

Objective of the project (in English):

The global burden of antimicrobial resistant infections is growing and poses a serious threat to human and animal health. This project is further developing the research that changes in flock management, mainly through improved nutrition and hygiene, can reduce the need for antibiotics and at the same time increase production, while maintaining high standards of animal health and welfare. It also provides a safe and healthy food supply when there are concerns that food producing animals may contribute to the development of human antibiotic resistance.

Description of activities (native language):

Bydd y prosiect yn datblygu protocol (gyda'r ffarmwr, milfeddygon lleol a milfeddyg arbenigol defaid) ar gyfer amser wyna i sicrhau bod ŵyn yn cael ei geni mewn amgylchedd hylan ac yn cael colostrwm o ansawdd da yn fuan ar ôl eu genedigaeth i leihau'r risg o afiechydon. Bydd y milfeddyg lleol yn ymweld ar ffermydd dwywaith yr wythnos am 3 wythnos er mwyn profi gwaed yr ŵyn er mwyn asesu amsugniad colostrum. Bydd ID y ddafad, sgôr cyflwr corff, gallu mamol, pwysau ŵyn, grym, sengl, efail neu dripled, a sut fath o ychwanegiad colostrum chafodd ei rhoi, i gyd yn cael eu cofnodi. Yn yr ail flwyddyn yr amcan fydd i leihau'r defnydd o wrthfiotigau ymhellach, y dibynnu ar ganlyniadau'r flwyddyn gyntaf ar bob fferm.

Description of activities (in English):

The project will develop a protocols (with the farmer, local vets and independent specialist sheep vet) for lambing time to ensure lambs are born into a relatively hygienic environment and receive good quality colostrum shortly after birth to decrease risk of disease. Each farm will be visited during lambing twice a week for 3 weeks by the local vet to blood sample lambs for assessment of colostrum absorption. The Ewe ID, body condition score, mothering ability, lamb weight, vigour, single twin or triplet and what type of colostrum supplement was provided will be recorded. In year 2 it is aimed to reduce the use of antibiotics further, dependant on results of year one on each individual farm.

Total budget:

46988

Project coordinator

Contact person:

Emma Jones

Address:

ADAS, 10d, Science Park, Cefn Llan, Waun Fawr, Aberystwyth SY23 3AH

E-mail:

Emma.Jones@adas.co.uk

Phone:

7774141780

Partner category:

Adviser

Practice summary

Practice abstract 1

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

he global burden of antimicrobial resistant infections is growing at an alarming pace and poses a serious threat to human and animal health. There is potential for global targets to be put in place to reduce antibiotic use (per kg/animal weight) in treated livestock, to an agreed level for each country. There is also likely to be restrictions onusage in livestock of those antibiotics that are critically important for human health. Taking measures now to reduce antibiotic use will make it easier to manage when these targets are applied. This project will look to provide a best practice model to minimise the use of antibiotics during lambing while also improving lifetime performance and longevity, animal health and welfare and subsequent farm profitability.

A report will be produced with contributions from the contractors and analysis of laboratory results combining the lessons learned on all farms involved and highlighting what worked well.

Project aims:
1) Promote responsible use of antibiotics to maintain the effectiveness of drugs and control costs.
2) Increase farmer confidence in ration formulation and management practices, reducing prophylactic use of antibiotics at lambing time while maintaining and improving health and welfare.
3) Improve nutrition and management practices in order to improve vigour, reduce mortality and reduce investment in finishing.
4) Empower the next generation of farmers to adopt alternatives to the use of antibiotics, helping them become more resilient.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Mae’r baich o heintiau gydag ymwrthedd gwrthficrobaidd yn cynyddu ledled y byd ac yn fygythiad difrifol iiechyd anifeiliaid a phobl. Mae yna bosibilrwydd y bydd targedau byd-eang yn cael eu gosod er mwyn lleihau’r defnydd o wrthfiotigau (pob kg/pwysau anifail) mewn da byw sy’n cael eu trin i lefel a gytunir arni ym mhob gwlad. Hefyd, mae’n debygol y bydd cyfyngiadau ar ddefnyddio gwrthfiotigau mewn da byw sydd hefyd yn bwysig iawn i iechyd pobl. Bydd cymryd camau i leihau’r defnydd o wrthfiotigau nawr, yn ei gwneud hi’n haws i’w reoli pan fydd y targedau yn cael eu rhoi ar waith. Bydd y prosiect yn edrych i ddarparu model arfer gorau i leihau'r defnydd o wrthfiotigau yn ystod ŵyna, a hefyd gwella perfformiad oes a hirhoedledd, iechyd a lles anifeiliaid ac o ganlyniad i hyn, proffidioldeb ffermydd.

Bydd adroddiad yn cael ei gynhyrchu gyda chyfraniadau gan y contractwyr a chanlyniadau'r labordy a fydd yn cyfuno'r gwersi a ddysgwyd ar bob fferm a oedd yn gweithio'n dda.

Amcanion y Prosiect:
1) Hyrwyddo defnydd cyfrifol o wrthfiotigau er mwyn cadw effeithiolrwydd cyffuriau a rheoli costau.
2) Magu hyder ffermwyr o ran llunio dogn ac arferion rheoli, lleihau defnydd proffylactig o wrthfiotigau yn ystod ŵyna gan gynnal a gwella iechyd a lles.
3) Gwella maeth ac arferion rheoli er mwyn cynyddu egni, lleihau marwolaethau a lleihau buddsoddiad mewn pesgi.
4) Rhoi pŵer i’r genhedlaeth nesaf o ffermwyr i fabwysiadu dewis gwahanol i wrthfiotigau a’u helpu i fod yn fwy gwydn

Further details

Links to other website(s):

Project page on Farming Connect Website