The system for pigs covers data for 2016 and the system for broilers covers data from Feb 2017 and will be completed in Feb 2019. Both are part of a project funded by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the data is being used to establish the DAFM National AMU database to be launched for pigs in November 2019 as part of the iNAP (Irish National Action Plan). The system for pigs is owned by the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. This pilot covers approx. 80 pig farms and 133 poultry farms (out of approx. 280 of each country-wide).

Animal subcategories: All weight categories for pigs are distinguished when collecting data but not reporting. Data from pig farms is available from the productive performance recording system ran by teagasc eProfit Monitor. For poultry, categories are not differentiated.

Input: Research personnel and advisors perform data collection. Data on use is obtained from farmers records on drugs delivered (with assistance from veterinary practices and feed mills). Information is available separately for in-feed, oral and injectable antibiotics. For chickens, data is provided by veterinarians as per flock including the reason for use.

AMU in pigs is processed into the weight-based indicators mg and mg/kg but is available in different units for benchmarking with other countries including DDD and DCD as outlined in ESVAC documents. Pig farmers are benchmarked but no thresholds are established. Benchmarking is based on total use and also critically important antimicrobials separately. The pig farm-level results are then discussed with the farmers. All pig farmers in the database received an individual report and a benchmarking report for their farms combined with information in production, biosecurity and slaughter house findings. Data has been further analyzed combined with operational data to identify risk factors for high use.

Poultry data is only used internally for decision making.