As part of the visit, which was organised by the International Finance Corporation, a group of Ukrainian officials visited the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB’s) office at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, where they attended several meetings and explored the levy board’s work in the red meat sector.
AHDB’s senior veterinary manager Mandy Nevel updated the Ukrainians about the UK pig sector’s antibiotic usage, revealing a 28% reduction in 2017 and a 50% drop over the past two years.
The officials were also introduced to the ‘electronic medicine book’ which was developed by AHDB Pork and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to allow producers to record and monitor on-farm usage.
AHDB said the visit from the Ukraine officials was an opportunity to showcase the UK position as a world leader in the field.
“The visit from the delegation of food safety specialists gave us an opportunity to highlight the important work being done by AHDB to reduce the use of antibiotics in the pig industry as part of the UK’s ‘One Health’ approach to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance,” said Nevel.
“Discussion was also had around other emerging diseases, including the spread of African Swine Fever.”
Other meetings were conducted by members of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the National Farmers’ Union, as well as many other bodies.
Ukraine is aiming to enhance its position in the global meat market after previously experiencing a production crisis across the country over the past few years. The country recently agreed a deal in principle with China to trade poultry meat last week.