Assured livestock farms must have annual vet visit

Beef and sheep farmers who use prescription medicines will need to demonstrate they have a visit from their vet at least once a year as part of updated farm assurance rules.

Red Tractor has completed a review of the standards that apply across each of its assurance schemes and new guidance notes will be sent out to farmers in the next two weeks.

The changes to the rules affecting beef and sheep farmers is part of efforts to give consumers and food buyers greater reassurance on the use of vet medicines.

The new rules will come into effect from 1 October 2014.

See more MPs push for reduction in antibiotics on farm

“With an increasing focus on human antibiotic resistance, there is a need for the agricultural industry to demonstrate responsible use of medicines,” says an explanatory document.

“We now ask that anyone using prescription medicines must have a visit from their vet once a year. It doesn’t have to be a specific visit, the vet may be visiting your farm for other purposes but they must have an opportunity to look over your livestock and review medicine and antibiotic resistance in order to prescribe appropriately.”

Other changes to the rules include requiring beef and sheep farmers to complete a review of their animal health plan and health and performance records.

Templates will be made available on the Red Tractor website to help make this process easier.

Emma Surman, technical manager for Red Tractor, said farmers had always been required to have a health plan, but they would now be asked to look at the reasons for treatment and review them once a year.

“We are encouraging people to get more out of health plans. It is good business practice to try to identify issues on farm and do something about them.”

Last week prime minister David Cameron warned of a global threat of antibiotic resistance.

It came as he announced an independent review, which he wants to come up with a plan to encourage and accelerate the discovery and development of new generations of antibiotics.

But MPs on the House of Commons’ science and technology committee have already warned that this will not help reduce what it sees as the “inappropriate” use of antibiotics on farms.

The committee has called for ministers to step up action to stop the unnecessary use of antibiotics in farm animals.

Other revisions to beef and lamb assurance rules

• Systems must be in place to ensure colostrum is received as soon as possible after birth, but at least within six hours of birth. Alternative sources of colostrum should be accessible in event of the dam not being able to provide – for example, sourced from another dam (fresh/frozen) or artificial
• Mineral blocks/licks, supplements and milk replacements must be manufactured by an assured source
• Farmers must show they are using rat bait responsibly by using a bait plan that records bait laid, bait point inspection dates and replenishment dates.