Get the Latest on Antimicrobial Use at AgriScot 2025

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and NFU Scotland will showcase their work to promote responsible antimicrobial use in livestock at AgriScot 2025 on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

QMS is proud to be a partner alongside SAOS in the Scottish Antimicrobial Use (AMU) Pilot, which began by supporting six veterinary practices in producing AMU reports for their farming clients. The project helps track the use of antibiotics in livestock and encourages informed discussions between farmers and vets.

The AMU Pilot, which started in July 2023, builds on the approach taken by Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers in Wales. Delivered in partnership with SAOS, Farmvet Systems, and ScotEID, and funded by the Scottish Government, the pilot has an ambition for national rollout. Using the SAOS AMU Calculator, antibiotic sales data is captured and standardised to produce easy-to-understand reports expressed in milligrams of antibiotic per kilogram of animal (mg/kg). These reports provide a starting point for conversations between farmers and vets, enabling a more targeted and proactive approach to antimicrobial use.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing global threat, with over 1.27 million deaths in 2019 linked to drug-resistant bacteria. Overuse or misuse of antibiotics in farming can contribute to resistance, impacting both human and animal health. The Scottish AMU Pilot addresses this challenge, aiming to protect public health, safeguard antibiotic effectiveness, support animal welfare and productivity, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to global food security.

Bruce McConachie, Head of Industry Development at Quality Meat Scotland, commented: “Antibiotic resistance poses the greatest threat to our industry after climate change. Livestock need antibiotics from time to time, as do humans. But when antibiotics stop working there can be catastrophic consequences for farm businesses and real impacts on animal welfare. Working alongside SAOS and Farmvet Systems has allowed us to understand antimicrobial use like never before. Gathering data from vets and farmers involved in the project will allow us to better understand how we can safeguard antibiotics for the future and use as little as possible, but as much as necessary.”

He added:“The vet practices taking part in the pilot have been instrumental in its success so far. Their commitment to open conversations, careful data collection, and shared learning has been invaluable in helping us shape what responsible antibiotic use looks like in practice. We’re incredibly grateful for their leadership and enthusiasm as we look to expand the programme.”

Robert Neill, Vice President, NFU Scotland commented: “Responsible antibiotic use is not just a matter of good livestock care, it’s essential for the future of our sector and public health. The AMU Pilot has shown how transparency and data-driven decisions can strengthen trust between farmers and vets, while improving animal welfare. This is about using antibiotics wisely - as little as possible, but as much as necessary, and Scottish farmers are ready to lead by example.”

The AMU Pilot will be showcased during the Moredun Research Institute Seminar at AgriScot 2025 in Seminar Room 2 from 2.45pm to 3.45pm. Confirmed speakers include Robert Neill, NFUS Vice President, Mike Denholm of Clyde Vets Ltd, Dr Nuno Silva of the Moredun Institute, and Kate Rowell, Chair of QMS.

Further details on the project can be found at https://saos.coop/what-we-do/data/amu-(antimicrobial-use)-pilot.