The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is urging its members to participate in an important new campaign to monitor antimicrobial usage in equine practice.
The new MonitorME project, launched this month, aims to collect antimicrobial usage data from equine practices around the UK, to better understand how antibiotics are used within the sector.
The project is being led by BEVA President Bruce Bladon and will feature as the key theme at BEVA Congress (10-13 September 2025, ICC Birmingham).
“Growing resistance to antibiotics is a very serious public health crisis, which is why I have chosen it as the overriding theme for my presidential year and for the forthcoming BEVA Congress,” said Bruce. “The World Health Organisation has the usage of veterinary antimicrobials firmly in their sights and the possibility of legislation being implemented to limit our access to these vital drugs is becoming ever more likely.
“It is important that we demonstrate, as a sector, that our usage of antimicrobials is responsible and proportionate, to ensure continued access. Taking part in a project like this is, without a doubt, the right thing to do.”
Practices are being asked to submit usage data from their practice management systems (PMS) to the BEVA office, where it will contribute to nationwide reporting of antibiotic use in UK equine practice. Ideally, they need to record the total mg of each antimicrobial used, together with the number of horses treated last year (in total, not just those treated with antibiotics) and their average weight if available.
The data is analysed and then collated into annual reports, which are published on the BEVA MonitorME webpage. The 2023 report is now available and will be updated periodically as practices continue to submit their 2023 data. Meanwhile, 2024 data collection has started, so practices can fire off their spreadsheets to antibiotics@beva.org.uk when they’re ready!
“I know I can rely on you all to do the right thing at a time like this so please send us details of how many antibiotics you are using in equine practice,” said Bruce.
To find out more and to participate visit our website.
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