AMR Risks Associated with Using Recycled Manure Solids (RMS) as Animal Bedding

This project is in response to the Ministers request for further evidence on whether or not to support the decision on permitting recycled manure solids as animal bedding. The UK needs to make a decision next year as to whether to continue to permit it in the UK and under what conditions, there is a suggestion that the use of the RMS will increase antimicrobial resistance which is a current UK Government strategic priority. This project will use the previous research project to address the questions as to whether there are risks of AMR associated with using RMS as animal bedding by using the information available in the original baseline study and through this projects aim of determining whether there is any change in antimicrobial resistance on farms using RMS bedding compared to other bedding.The objectives of the project are: 1) To provide information on any changes in antimicrobial resistance on dairy farms using recycled manure solids as bedding, over a 20-24 month period, in comparison with farms using sawdust and sand. 2) To provide data to increase understanding of relationships between antimicrobial use (and other management factors) on antimicrobial resistance on dairy farms.