Giving animals the right amount of antibiotics

SIR – Baroness Hollins et al (Letters, February 15) raise concerns about the overuse of antibiotics in farming.

The veterinary profession is committed to the responsible use of antibiotics. A recent report by the British Poultry Council revealed a 28 per cent drop in overall use of antibiotics compared with 2014. The Pig Veterinary Society has reclassified Colistin and other critical antibiotics to ensure they are products of last resort.

A blanket ban on the strategic use of antibiotics would remove a veterinary surgeon’s ability to protect animals according to risk of disease. We have a duty to ensure the health and welfare of animals under human care. This duty would be jeopardised by simplistic restrictions on prescribing.

Sean Wensley President, British Veterinary Association London W1

SIR – In Britain and the rest of Europe, antibiotics are only available by veterinary prescription.

Under animal welfare legislation, farmers in Britain need to ensure sick animals receive appropriate treatment without delay. Veterinary surgeons, farmers and the animal medicines industry agree that antibiotics should not be routinely used to compensate for poor husbandry practice.

Another important point is that there are many more animals in any country than there are humans, and many animals are considerably heavier than humans. A 600kg cow will need more antibiotics than an 80kg person.

Antibiotic resistance is an issue that human and animal sectors need to work on together.

Donal Murphy National Office of Animal Health Enfield, Middlesex