The British Veterinary Association (BVA), along with the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA), have given their support to a new best practice procedure for prescribing antibiotics to game birds. This new initiative has been produced in conjunction with Game Farmers Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Game Feeds Trade Association and RUMA, and has already gained commitment from veterinary practices that conduct the most significant amount of game work in the UK.
The new procedure for prescribing antibiotics in gamebirds was created to further promote the responsible use of antibiotics in the sector, and contribute to the inter-profession campaign to prevent antimicrobial resistance.
John Fishwick, Junior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, said: “Antibiotics are vital drugs in treating infections and we all have a duty to prescribe and use them in a responsible manner to ensure they continue to be effective in the future. We are working closely with the gamebird sector and BVPA to encourage the responsible prescribing of antimicrobials by veterinary surgeons, and are therefore very pleased to support this best practice procedure.
“This is a great example of the gamebird sector looking to work with the veterinary profession to encourage responsible prescribing practice and to reduce antimicrobial use.”
BVPA President Philip Hammond said: “The Best Practice Procedure for Prescribing Antimicrobials in Gamebirds is supported In full by the British Veterinary Poultry Association and has been produced in conjunction with Game Farmers Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Game Feeds Trade Association, BVA and RUMA. Further to this, the veterinary practices conducting the most significant amount of game work in the UK have also committed to this best practice procedure document. The BVPA wish to ensure that all veterinary surgeons prescribing antibiotics for gamebirds are aware of this correspondence and request their full support in compliance to help in reducing antimicrobial use and risk of AMR in the sector.”
The gamebird sector joins the poultry, pig and cattle sectors in making a public commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics through the implementation of an industry wide initiative.