Reducing antibiotic use – without compromise (Nov/Dec 25)

Latest report reveals that huge strides have been made by producers to reduce antimicrobial use, allowing them to meet industry targets and protect herd health and welfare.

TEXT SARAH BOLT

Antibiotic use has declined across the UK dairy sector, which is great news. And even better is that this reduction has been achieved without negatively impacting herd health. That was the key finding of a report, by Kingshay, which confirms that producers have significantly reduce antimicrobial with no compromises to health or welfare.

In fact the evidence supported by data from Kingshay’s Antimicrobial Report (for year ending March 2024) suggests that responsible reductions in antibiotic use are being achieved alongside improvements in key health indicators.

The organisation has been monitoring antimicrobial usage across dairy herds for seven years, and the 2024 report includes data from 879 herds. The headline figure is striking: total antimicrobial usage has fallen to 12.7mg/PCU, which is significantly  lower than the 2024 target of 17.9mg/PCU, and represents a 19% reduction since 2020.

Vital tool

“The goal has never been to eliminate antibiotic use entirely,” says Kingshay’s Emma Puddy. “The mantra has always been ‘as little as possible, as much as necessary’, and antimicrobials are still a vital tool in treating bacterial disease. But their use must be targeted and responsible,” she adds.

This philosophy underpins the dairy sector’s approach, optimising herd health to reduce the need for antibiotics, and ensuring that when they are used they are used appropriately.

One of the most compelling aspects of the report is the evidence that reduced antibiotic use has not led to poorer health outcomes. In fact, several key health performance indicators have improved.

Mastitis cases have fallen from 39 per 100 cows in 2019 to just 26 per 100 cows in 2024. Bulk somatic cell counts have dropped steadily for the past five years, even as blanket dry cow therapy has been replaced with more selective approaches.

And mortality rates have decreased from 1.90% in 2019 to 1.72% in 2024, pointing to better disease management.

“The rate of cows leaving the herd has remained stable, and the proportion of animals culled for health reasons has decreased, allowing for more strategic, performance-based culling decisions,” adds Ms Puddy.

“These trends show that the sector is not only maintaining welfare standards but also actively improving them.”

Mastitis management

Mastitis remains one of the primary reasons for antibiotic use in dairy herds. But the report shows a consistent decline in both mastitis cases and the use of lactating-cow tubes, from a defined course dose (DCDVet) of 0.558 in 2020 to 0.386 in 2024. This reduction is a testament to improved management practices and targeted treatment strategies on dairy farms across the country.

“The reduction in mastitis cases, alongside reduced tube usage, demonstrates the sector’s commitment to tackling disease through better prevention and management, and not just medication.”

Blanket dry cow therapy, where all cows were treated with antibiotics at drying off regardless of individual health status, was the standard approach to managing subclinical mastitis. While effective, this method contributed significantly to overall antibiotic usage. But the industry has embraced a more refined strategy – selective dry cow therapy. This targets cows that truly need it. This shift has been a major driver in reducing antibiotic use across dairy herds, without compromising udder health or milk quality. Dry cow tube usage has dropped from 0.484 DCDVet in 2020 to 0.425 in 2024, without negative impacts on somatic cell counts or mastitis. This targeted farm-specific approach is proving effective, and the data supports its continued adoption.

While the overall trend towards reduced antibiotic usage is positive, the report highlights significant variation between individual herds. The highest quartile of users still accounts for 50% of total antimicrobial usage (see Figure 1), indicating that some units have more work to do.

Figure 1: Range of antimicrobial use by individual dairy herds

Vets and dairy advisers have a key role to play in supporting producers with higher antibiotic usage. These herd may face unique challenges, such as disease outbreaks or underlying health issues, which can lead to temporary spikes in antimicrobial use.

“But with timely vet intervention, thorough diagnostics, and tailored herd health management plans, these spikes can be effectively addressed,” says Ms Puddy. “Ongoing support helps producers to implement preventive strategies, improve biosecurity, and adopt more targeted treatments. This, ultimately, reduces reliance on antibiotics while safeguarding herd health and welfare.”

One of the most encouraging achievements highlighted in the Kingshay report is the significant reduction in the use of highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HP-CIAs), a category of antibiotics deemed essential for human medicine and therefore requiring strict stewardship in livestock agriculture.

Since 2020, the use of injectable HP-CIAs in dairy herds has fallen by an impressive 82%, now accounting for just 0.06% of total antimicrobial usage. This sharp decline reflects a proactive and responsible approach by the dairy sector, recognising the global importance of preserving the efficacy of these life-saving medicines. By minimising their use, producers and vets are helping to safeguard public health while still maintaining high standards of herd care.

Health management

The Kingshay report also took a closer look at how cows are exiting the herd, offering valuable insights into health and management practices. Between 2020 and 2024, there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of casualty cows and on-farm mortality, indicating that disease management and welfare standards are improving.

The majority of cows are now being sold for slaughter in a planned and controlled manner, rather than being removed due to emergency health issues. This shift reflects a broader trend: the proportion of cows leaving the herd for health-related reasons has declined, while selective culling based on performance, productivity, or breeding decisions, has increased.

This evolution in culling strategy allows producers to take a more proactive and strategic approach to management, focusing on long-term herd improvement rather than reactive decision-making. It is a sign that better health planning and reduced reliance on antibiotics are enabling more thoughtful, welfare-conscious decisions on farm.

“We’re seeing that better management, improved health planning, and targeted treatments are not only reducing antibiotic use, but they are also improving outcomes for cows and producers alike,” adds Ms Puddy.

“This is good news for producers because it shows that efforts to reduce antimicrobial usage are paying off, not only in terms of meeting targets, but also when it comes to building a healthier and more resilient herd and business.”

Visit www.kingshay.com to download the full report.