Species-specific antibiotic-usage targets will be announced this Friday at the annual conference for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (Ruma).

Ruma is acting on a UK Government stipulation that agriculture should reduce antibiotic usage to 50mg/kg by 2018 and asked the industry to set its own sector-specific targets.

By comparison, the 2014 figure was 62mg/kg.

Ruma’s targets task force has been examining ways of reducing antibiotic use. Agriculture, game and seafood sector representatives were asked to “define objectives to lower disease burden, improve immunity and use products more effectively to minimise the development of antibiotic resistance.”

Dr Kitty Healey of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will deliver the latest statistics on antibiotic sales and surveillance.