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bioRxiv · 10.1101/186593

Evaluation of Metrics for Benchmarking Antimicrobial Use in the United Kingdom Dairy Industry

Mills, H.·Turner, A.·Morgans, L.·Massey, J.·Schubert, H.·Rees, G.·Broadfoot, F.·Barrett, D. C.·Dowsey, A.·Reyher, K. K.
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Abstract

The issue of antimicrobial resistance is of global concern across human and animal health. In 2016 the UK government committed to new targets for reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock. However, though a number of metrics for quantifying AMU are defined in the literature, all give slightly different interpretations.\n\nThis paper reviews a selection of metrics for AMU in the dairy industry: total mg, total mg/kg, daily dose and daily course metrics. Although the focus is on their application to the dairy industry, the metrics and issues discussed are relevant across livestock sectors.\n\nIn order to be used widely, a metric should be understandable and relevant to the veterinarians and farmers who are prescribing and using antimicrobials. This means that clear methods, assumptions (and possible biases), standardised values and exceptions should be published for all metrics. Particularly relevant are assumptions around the number and weight of cattle at risk of treatment and definitions of dose rates and course lengths; incorrect assumptions can mean metrics over- or under-represent AMU.\n\nThe authors recommend that the UK dairy industry work towards UK-specific metrics using UK-specific medicine dose and course regimens as well as cattle weights in order to monitor trends nationally.

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Mills, H., Turner, A., Morgans, L., Massey, J., Schubert, H., Rees, G., Broadfoot, F., Barrett, D. C., Dowsey, A., Reyher, K. K.. 2017-09-15. Evaluation of Metrics for Benchmarking Antimicrobial Use in the United Kingdom Dairy Industry. https://doi.org/10.1101/186593

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