Major collaborative initiative launched to tackle challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship in the UK ruminant sector
16 October 2025
A new collaborative initiative has launched to co-develop a ‘roadmap’ to support the UK ruminant sector in tackling the challenge of improving - and proving - responsible antibiotic stewardship (ABS).
Although UK farming has cut antibiotic use by almost 60% in the last decade and is estimated to have very low use in cattle and sheep sectors, exact ruminant figures remain elusive, due to the scale and volume of enterprises making data collection challenging. This may have serious consequences for our important export market.
This is why farmers and organisations from all parts of the UK ruminant sectors used the opportunity of the ground-breaking launch to commit to tackling this thorny issue, which is complex because of the involvement of over 100,000 farmers in producing lamb, beef and milk over four nations, all with vastly different production systems.
This reinvigorated effort brings together stakeholders from all parts of the UK ruminant sector, via the UKRI-funded AMAST Network working with the veterinary charity RCVS Knowledge. The initiative will co-develop ways of promoting and evidencing responsible antibiotic usage (ABU) and build on significant efforts of the last decade. It now aims to generate the momentum to ‘finish the job’, in the words of Mark Jelley, Chair of Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group (CAGG).
He continues: ‘Time is running out. Having led the way we are now falling behind Europe, and risk missing out on export opportunities looking forward. We have a superb product to offer but need to be able to demonstrate this, so we need to grab this opportunity to solve the logistical and practical barriers to this challenge.
‘Having efficient, effective records and provable stewardship is an important step in securing a resilient future for all our ruminant sectors.’
The working group, co-chaired by Fiona Lovatt (Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group and Farm Vet Champions clinical lead, RCVS Knowledge), Mark Jelley (CAGG) and David Black (BCVA President), kicked off the initiative at a sector-wide launch event on Monday 29 September 2025. They presented to nearly 80 representatives from the ruminant sector, outlining the challenges they are seeking to overcome and how everyone attending can play their part in co-developing solutions together.
Professor Dame Sally Davies also shared a message of support for the initiative and a rallying cry to the attendees, stating: ‘The world is truly facing an antibiotic emergency. This group's plan to develop a ruminant roadmap marks a bold step forward. It leads the way for antibiotic use data collection and good stewardship in the ruminant sector.’
Following this launch event, there will be a series of surveys, workshops and focus groups designed to generate ideas and ultimately reach consensus on what more can be done. To get involved in these co-design activities, individuals are encouraged to sign up to register their interest. The work will culminate in a summit in summer 2026, and ultimate publication of the roadmap in autumn 2026. These activities are key to the next round of the cattle and sheep RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force (TTF) Targets which underpin the next five years of the National Action Plan (NAP).
Fiona Lovatt, co-chair of the working group leading the initiative, says: ‘This is a pivotal moment for all cattle and sheep farmers and vets and it is vital that we seize this opportunity to build on all our work so far.
‘We are calling on individuals from all parts of the UK ruminant sector to get involved so that we can develop practical solutions together, with support to deliver these in our different areas of work.’
The collaboration currently includes RCVS Knowledge, RUMA Agriculture, CAGG, SAGG, BCVA and SVS. Other organisations are encouraged to join too and you can register your interest to get involved in the co-design activities via the sign-up form.
Find out more about the initative and watch the launch webinar.
