Antibiotic reduction guidance in game rearing

The latest report from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) suggests the industry is some way behind achieving its own projected targets to reduce antibiotic use. 

According to the VMD’s UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance Report (UK-VARSS 2023), published in November 2024, while a recorded rise in antibiotic use between 2022 and 2023 partially reflects changes in population size during the avian influenza outbreak, relative use has effectively plateaued since 2019.

This does indicate that the sector is highly unlikely to meet its own industry-led targets to reduce antibiotic use by 40% between 2019 and 2024, and this is in part, thought to relate to challenging weather conditions that have increased the risk of enteric diseases.

In line with the wider industry’s push on antibiotic reduction in game birds, Sportsman Game Feeds has been working with its customers to help redress the balance.

“Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop defences against the antibiotics designed to kill them, so it is important that we continue to look at ways of reducing antibiotic use in feed and water when rearing game birds,” says Waseem Mirza, monogastric nutritionist with Sportsman Game Feeds. 

“The key is to follow the principles of planning, protecting, and preventing in order to reduce and prevent antibiotics usage and when it is absolutely unavoidable, they should be used responsibly,” he adds.

The Sportsman team has prepared a number of pointers to help reduce that reliance, based around key influences, such as nutrition and stress reduction.

“Stress is one of the major factors leading to the introduction of antibiotics into feed or water, so looking at ways at managing this throughout the birds life can help reduce this requirement,” explains James Laking, Sportsman Game Feeds account manager.

“Likewise, nutrition is crucial, and as all of our account managers have undertaken additional training and are members of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) Feed Advisory Register (FAR), we can provide that expert knowledge in feeding requirements,” he adds.

Sportsman Game Feeds’ tips and practical solutions

Nutrition 

• Provide high quality and balanced ingredients in order to produce well reared, high health birds.
• Provide appropriate and optimum levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to strengthen immune systems. 
• Feed the appropriate ration at the correct time in the birds life.

Water 

• It is important to have clean lines, properly flushed through, to reduce bacterial build up which could lead to infections in the bird’s gut, and other possible pathogens.
• Water needs to be readily available at all ages, including when birds have been released.

Stress reduction

• It is advised that reared game birds are kept at a correct spacing for the size of rearing house/ release pens. Giving birds ample space to grow will help reduce stress from overcrowding. 
• Other factors that can lead to stress in game birds include poor ventilation, sudden changes in environment and lack of available feed and water.

Biosecurity and hygiene 

• Disinfectant foot dips are advised when entering game farms and pens. This will reduce the spread of disease from pen to pen, and more importantly, farm to farm.
• Pest control on farms should be well managed and recorded throughout the year.
• All equipment used for rearing game birds should be cleaned sufficiently, and disinfected before use to reduce any carry over from disease.

Alternative treatments 

• Prebiotics and probiotics can support the birds gut health, improving their immune system and reducing susceptibility to disease. 

Health Monitoring 

• Undertake regular health checks throughout the rearing season to make sure birds are performing. 
• Conduct post mortems. 
• Encourage regular site visits and frequent communication with your vet throughout the season.

“We understand that there will still be occasions when medication will be required for the welfare of the birds, and this should always be administered in conjunction with advice from your vet,” continues Mr Laking. 

“Significant progress has been made through joint industry initiatives, such as those pushes through The Game Farmers Association (GFA), Countryside Alliance (CA), National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

“However, more needs to be done to increase momentum to continue this commitment to antibiotic reduction. Sportsman Game Feeds will continue to work with industry and our keepers and rearers to help reach these reduction targets,” he concludes.