The Countryside Alliance calls for further falls in anti-biotic use in game rearing

The game rearing sector has made great progress in driving down anti-biotic use, seeing a 50% reduction over the last 3 years. However, we must continue to work together to pursue further reductions. The Countryside Alliance, alongside nine other partners, have therefore released a joint communication on the issue, in which we have explained why further falls are necessary, and the steps we have taken to make this possible.

Improved husbandry will always be the key to minimising medication. Alongside a new British Game Alliance game farm audit, which will help aid this, we have also managed to:

• Ensure any 'in feed' anti-biotic prescriptions must be signed off by a British Veterinary Poultry Association member vet
• Successfully lobbied feed compounders to sell anti-biotic compound feeds in minimum orders of 10 bags, rather than the previous minimum of a one tonne batch.

The Game Feed Trade Association will also be monitoring the warehouse stock of anti-biotic compound feeds across the country, and liaising with compounders, to ensure an excess is not produced.

The joint communication, which contains more detail, can be read here.