Under the new National Farmed Animal Health Strategy, as published by the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, Ireland should develop “an electronic system for collecting data on antibiotic usage” within the next five years.

The strategy highlights the risk posed by antimicrobial resistance, described as a “global public health risk,” and emphasises the role of vets, farmers and advisors in ensuring “the right antibiotic at the right dose, to the right animal, for the right time”.

Collecting and analysing data on drug usage is seen as a priority in achieving this. Regulations are expected to tighten around access to antibiotics.

The strategy also targets increased electronic tagging of livestock.

For sheep and goats, the document states that “there is an identified need to enhance the system to better support traceability” and sets an objective to “further develop and improve the sheep identification system to better support animal health and food safety assurances and controls” by 2022.

The strategy also plans for a “cost/benefit analysis evaluation of introducing a fully electronic identification system for cattle”.

The aim here is that “Ireland’s cattle identification and movement systems will maintain their position as among the best in the world”.