UK poultry sector cuts antibiotic use by 83% since 2012
The British Poultry Council (BPC) has reported an 83% reduction in total antibiotic use across the UK poultry meat sector since 2012. According to the newly published 2025 Antibiotic Stewardship Report, antibiotic use in chickens remained well below the government-approved RUMA target at 11.33 mg/pcu, while turkeys recorded 40 mg/pcu, also under the sector target. Ducks, although not subject to an official target, showed a continued downward trend at 0.58 mg/pcu.
The report highlights a 99.34% reduction in the use of critically important antibiotics over the same period. These results, achieved through veterinary oversight, biosecurity improvements, and pre-competitive collaboration across the supply chain, demonstrate the industry’s commitment to responsible medicine use.
