Ruminating on Responsible Antibiotic Use
29th October 2025
Great news for the UK’s cattle and sheep sectors a major new collaboration has just launched to create a shared Ruminant Antibiotic Stewardship Roadmap. The roadmap is Led by RCVS Knowledge, and co-chaired by Fiona Lovatt (Sheep Antibiotic Guardian, Farm Vet Champions lead at RCVS Knowledge), Mark Jelley (Chair of Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group), and David Black (President of the British Cattle Veterinary Association). The project brings together vets, farmers, and industry stakeholders to showcase responsible antibiotic use in the ruminant sector.
Ewe-niting the ruminant sector
The UK’s livestock industry has already got a lot to celebrate with a reduction of almost 60% in antibiotic use over the past decade. But for ruminants, it is still difficult to demonstrate antibiotic stewardship efforts clearly across such diverse systems and nations. This is where this new initiative comes in: it is about collecting the right data, building the right frameworks, and proving what responsible antibiotic use really looks like.
Steering the herd towards responsible use
A roadmap is being co-designed through surveys, workshops, and focus groups over the next year, leading up to a UK-wide summit in summer 2026 and the publication of the final roadmap later that year. The goal is feasible, practical, and farmer-led change not just targets on paper.
Moo-ving to support the roadmap
This is exactly the kind of joined-up approach we need. It recognises that a one-size-fits-all approach to antibiotic stewardship is not practical for all livestock sectors and it offers the opportunity to explore practical solutions, which consider the diversity of production systems for each of the ruminant sectors. By working together, the ruminant sector can continue to lead globally on responsible antibiotic use while protecting animal health, welfare, and market confidence.
Join the herd (and flock)
The Ruminant Antibiotic Stewardship Roadmap will be inviting farmers, vets and industry stakeholders to share their experiences through the project’s workshops, focus groups or surveys. Every voice helps shape a roadmap that is practical, evidence-based, and encompasses the whole ruminant sector.
To collaboration, transparency, and smarter antibiotic use across the UK ruminant sector.
For more information:
Major collaborative initiative launched to tackle challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship in the UK ruminant sector – RCVS Knowledge