The European Union recently introduced new legislation on veterinary medicines (Regulation 2019/6), which seeks, among other aims, to reduce antimicrobial (AM) use in food animals, particularly prophylactic use, This new legislation will have major implications on AM prescribing and use in the EU. AM usage data in farm animal production are needed to objectively monitor progress. With these data, it is possible to conduct benchmarking (nationally, by sector, by prescriber, and at farm-level) and to allow critical evaluation of usage patterns, both for domestic use and international comparison. In a number of European countries, the objective measurementof on-farm antibiotic usage has proved central to progress towards improved antibiotic stewardship in farm animal production (More, 2020). In Ireland, a national AM usage database is under development, To date intramammary AM sales data are currently the only avenue that is readily available to gain insights into on-farm usage of AMs relevant to mastitis control within the Irish dairy industry.
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