It has been produced jointly by the Pig Health and Welfare Council Antimicrobial Sub-group and the Pig Veterinary Society.

Sub-group chairman John FitzGerald said: “The PHWC supports the responsible use of antibiotics. This means minimising the need to use antibiotics by managing the farm to reduce the risk of disease challenge and using them properly to maintain animal health and welfare.

“We are delighted to launch this guidance which will help vets and farmers to review their antibiotic use regularly and to consider ways in which this could be optimised without harming the pigs.”

PVS representative on the Sub-Group Grace Webster said: “We acknowledge that many vets and farmers are already applying these best practice guidelines in their review of antibiotic usage. This is an integral part of their ongoing efforts to use antibiotics ‘as little as possible and as much as necessary’ to safeguard the health and welfare of the pigs under their care and encourage all of our members to consider whether they can improve their current approach.”

The guidance is available by following this link: http://pork.ahdb.org.uk/health-welfare/pig-health-welfare-council/phwc-antimicrobials-sub-group/