UK Pig Farmers Slash Antibiotic Use by 72% in a Decade, Setting Global Benchmark

UK pig farmers have dramatically cut their antibiotic use by a stunning 72% since 2015, with the latest figures for 2025 showing a further 10% drop in just one year. This remarkable achievement, reported by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), highlights a decade-long industry-wide shift towards better animal health and responsible medicine use, helping to curb the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. The success comes even after concerns that the 2022 withdrawal of zinc oxide, a common treatment, might reverse progress, demonstrating the resilience of new farming practices. This significant reduction is a beacon in the ongoing global fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), where the overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals leads to drug-resistant 'superbugs'. While the UK pig sector leads the charge, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also reported a 50% drop in veterinary antibiotic sales across the EU over 12 years. International bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN General Assembly are actively pushing for significant cuts in antimicrobial use across all agrifood systems by 2030, recognizing the critical link between livestock practices and public health. Looking ahead, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA Alliance) has set ambitious new targets for 2025-2029, aiming for a further 20% reduction in pig antibiotic use by 2028. While the initial 'easy wins' are now behind the industry, sustaining this momentum will require continued innovation in herd health, robust biosecurity measures, and careful monitoring through systems like the electronic Medicines Book (eMB). The focus remains on preventing disease rather than simply treating it, ensuring antibiotics stay effective for both animal welfare and human medicine.