2024 antibiotic usage in UK pig industry

In 2024, there was a slight increase in antibiotic use in the UK pig sector.

Despite this increase, overall antibiotic use is still 17.9% lower than in 2020 and 69% lower than in 2015.

The data collected using the electronic Medicine Book (eMB) show that antibiotic use in UK pigs was 86 mg/PCU (milligrams per population correction unit) in 2024 – a slight increase on the 2023 figure of 85 mg/PCU.

Total antibiotic usage in pigs recorded in eMB in 2024

The disease challenges seen by some pig producers in 2023 continued into 2024, but the quarterly usage submissions indicate that the peak has passed and that antibiotic use is decreasing.

The last remaining stocks of zinc oxide, a product that reduces post-weaning diarrhoea, will have been used during early 2024 and antibiotics are one of the treatments available to help manage this condition.

We will have to wait for the 2025 data to gain an insight into the full impact of the removal of zinc oxide.