The BVA and the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) have given their support to a new best practice procedure for prescribing antibiotics to game birds.
Produced in conjunction with the Game Farmers Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Game Feeds Trade Association and Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA), the initiative has already gained commitment from veterinary practices that conduct the most significant amount of game work in the UK.

Responsible prescribing

The new procedure for prescribing antibiotics in game birds was created to further promote the responsible use of antibiotics in the sector and contribute to the inter-profession campaign to prevent antimicrobial resistance.
John Fishwick, BVA junior vice-president said: “Antibiotics are vital drugs in treating infections and we all have a duty to prescribe and use them in a responsible manner to ensure they continue to be effective in the future.
“We are working closely with the game bird sector and the BVPA to encourage responsible prescribing of antimicrobials by veterinary surgeons and are, therefore, very pleased to support this best practice procedure.”

Public commitment

BVPA president Philip Hammond said: “The Best Practice Procedure for Prescribing Antimicrobials in Game Birds is supported in full by the BVPA and has been produced in conjunction with the Game Farmers Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Game Feeds Trade Association, the BVA and RUMA.
“The BVPA wishes to ensure all veterinary surgeons prescribing antibiotics for game birds are aware of this correspondence and requests their full support in compliance to help in reducing antimicrobial use and risk of antimicrobial resistance in the sector.”
The game bird sector joins the poultry, pig and cattle sectors in making a public commitment to the responsible use of antibiotics through the implementation of an industry-wide initiative.