LIVESTOCK FARMERS and vets in the UK are being urged to share their views on the use of on-farm anti-microbials.

It is widely believed that overuse and improper use of anti-microbials in livestock farming is contributing to the emergence and spread of anti-microbial resistance, causing a significant threat to global public health and food security.

Although human and animal health requires the use of anti-microbials, it has been estimated that two thirds of the future increase in anti-microbial use worldwide will be in animal production. Researchers from the James Hutton Institute believe there needs to be a balance struck between optimising livestock production whilst carefully managing anti-microbial usage.

The JHI, in association with 17 partners and multiple stakeholders from across Europe, are working together on an EU funded project called ROADMAP (Rethinking of Anti-microbial Decision-systems in the Management of Animal Production) to develop options for reducing anti-microbial use in consultation with farmers, vets, advisors and consultants at national, European and international levels.

They say that understanding these factors will enable efficient, context-adapted and socially acceptable innovations that stakeholders, producers and animal health professionals will be able to adopt and convert to large-scale market opportunities.

A research assistant at the JHI's Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department, Carol Kyle, said: "Considering the experiences of both vets and farmers is crucial to better understanding the issues facing livestock farmers and finding practical, permanent way of reducing antimicrobial use."

Two separate and anonymous surveys have been created to compile a diverse spread of opinions and experiences. UK livestock farmers, farm partners and farm employees are urged to complete the survey via https://bit.ly/ROADMAP_Farmer. There will be a £5 donation to farmers charities for each completed survey. UK based vets are invited to complete a different survey, available at https://bit.ly/ROADMAP_Vet. JHI confirmed that £5 will be donated to Vetlife for every completed entry.