The SGS-BVK veal calves system has been developed by SGS at the request of 'Beroepsvereniging voor de Belgische Kalfsvleessector vzw (BVK vzw)' for monitoring the antimicrobial usage in Belgian veal calves. It has been tested since 2015 and is operational since 2017, including approx. 95% of the Belgian veal industry.

Animal subcategories:  Four production types are distinguished: all-in all-out milk, all-in all-out double muscled Belgian blue, all-in all-out crossbreds, and starters.

Input: Input is done by the veterinarian, per batch of animals set-up. In addition to registering the antimicrobials used also the number of animals set up needs to be provided. This number of animals is cross-checked with the information available in the SANITEL database of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain.

AMU is calculated as the BD100 per batch. Different estimated standard weights at treatment are used per production type to calculate the kg calves at risk.

Per quarter, the results are compared of all batches from a certain production type that have finished off in that quarter. Thresholds are set on the P50 and P90 of the distribution of all batches in a quarter (high users: above the P90).

Farmers receive the benchmarking results of their respective batches through the integrations they are part of and the vets associated with the integrations; high users are expected to reduce their AMU.