Antibiotics are important medicines and if an animal requires veterinary treatment in the form of antibiotics, then it is important that the animal gets that treatment. RUMA supports responsible and prudent use of antibiotics – so we should seek to use them only when they are needed, in the right way and to the right dose. Their use should not be stopped completely as this would compromise the health and welfare of the animals. The UK farming industry has embraced the responsible use of antibiotics, and UK sales of antibiotics for food producing animals show reductions of 53% since 2014. This means the UK is one of the lowest users of antibiotics to treat farm animals in Europe.