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RUMA clarifies its position on antibiotics
cows
RUMA does not support routine preventative use of antibiotics in the place of better husbandry or farm management.
Position paper addresses "inaccurate assertions"

A "wide-ranging" position paper has been released by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA), to clarify its position on antibiotic resistance and the use of antibiotics in farming.

The paper also states that it aims to address "inaccurate assertions" made by the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics (ASOA).

Resistance is a hotly debated topic, with the Prime Minister recently commissioning a review to help address the problem.

Last year, the UK's chief medical officer said: "Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to modern health and we face a future without cures for infection if antibiotics are not used responsibly."

RUMA says it does not support routine preventative use of antibiotics in the place of better husbandry or farm management.

The position paper states that scientific evidence suggests antibiotic resistance in humans is largely down to overuse or misuse in human as opposed to veterinary medicine.

A report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, cited in RUMA's paper,  states that "there is circumstantial evidence that antimicrobial resistance can be transmitted from animal pathogens to human pathogens although the evidence base in incomplete". (Ensuring Access to Working Antimicrobials, paragraph 51).

RUMA says it supports the committee's call for further research in this area and highlights more recent research which found resistant bacteria are genetically different in animals and humans.

RUMA added that there is "no clinical crisis in animal medicine" and antibiotic treatments continue to work.

The alliance called on ASOA and others licensing organic production to allow antibiotics to be used responsibly for the benefit of animal welfare.

Removing certain antibiotics from animal use with put pressure on the remaining classes, thereby increasing, rather than reducing, the risk of resistance developing, RUMA says.

Animal welfare must also be considered. The paper states: "We need to consider very carefully the consequences of of reducing necessary antibiotic use in animals, which can have serious animal welfare/health implications, for possibly no benefit to reducing resistance in humans."

However, RUMA says there must be no complacency about antibiotic use in animals and medicines must be used responsibly in agriculture to prevent problems in animal or human medicine.

Visit RUMA's website for the full paper: http://www.ruma.org.uk/news/20140408.htm

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.