Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we work with food and farming businesses to make them more profitable, competitive, and sustainable - #workingtogether to shape the future, today.
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The Scottish AMU (antimicrobial use) Pilot is working to support fifteen vet practices to produce AMU reports for their farming clients, helping to lead the way in tracking the use of antibiotics in livestock.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a growing global threat, with 1.27 million deaths in 2019 linked to drug-resistant bacteria. When antibiotics are overused or misused in farming bacteria can become resistant. These resistant bacteria can then spread to humans reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics for treating human infections.
Tackling AMR in livestock is important for several reasons:
The AMU Pilot began in July 2023 and echoes the approach taken by Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers (WLBP) in Wales.
SAOS is working with Quality Meat Scotland, Farmvet Systems and ScotEID, supported by Scottish Government, to take the pilot forward with an ambition for national rollout of the scheme.
Antibiotic sales data are captured and collated via Scotland’s AMU Calculator. This reporting tool produces standardised antimicrobial usage (AMU) reports based on industry agreed metrics. The results are expressed as milligrams of antibiotic used per kilogram of animal (mg/kg) which is a measurement accepted by the supply chain and government.
This data is presented as an easy to understand AMU report, which can be the starting point for discussion between the farmer and their vet. There are multiple benefits to these conversations, including the opportunity to identify and implement a more targeted and proactive AMU approach.
Beyond the AMU Pilot
Scotland aims to move from the current AMU Pilot to a full national rollout, covering every vet practice and farming clients. With funding, this would allow Scotland to build a complete, evidence based picture of antimicrobial use and demonstrate its low usage levels.
To help drive momentum, supporters are encouraged to raise the importance of AMU recording in their own forums — whether within vet practices, NFUS meetings, Scottish Government events, or relevant animal health related initiatives.
There are currently FIVE more spaces to fill and we're spreading the word with our AMU Project and Recruitment Info leaflet.
If you would like to have your practice included in the AMU Pilot, get in touch!
Contact patricia.rojas@saos.coop
SAOS/ScotEID Project Manager
emma@saos.coop
Project Manager
patricia.rojas@saos.coop
AMU Project & MyHerdStats
alanah.gordon@scoteid.com