In Ireland between 2008 and 2022, intramammary antimicrobial (AM) products could be prescribed by a veterinary practitioner under what was known as Schedule 8 (or remote) prescribing. Under this prescribing route, an annual herd visit was not required when criteria were met as outlined in Animal Remedies Regulation 2007 to 2017 (statutory instruments No. 786/2007 and 558/2017). Under this prescribing route, the responsibilities of the milk purchaser, the farmer and the veterinary practitioner were each outlined, and a written mastitis control programme (MCP) was required. Milk purchasers implemented MCPs on participating farms (so-called MCP herds) with support from veterinary practitioner(s) who undertook Schedule 8 prescribing of intramammary AM tubes. This study seeks a clearer understanding of the role of milk purchasers in the prescribing and sale of intramammary AM products in Ireland during 2019 and 2020, whilst this Regulation was in force. Specifically, the study sought insights into the role of milk purchasers in the prescribing and sale of intramammary AM products in the Irish dairy industry during 2019 and 2020, using anonymised and highly aggregated milk purchaser data. The study also provided insights into milk quality among supplying herds during this period. For this study, we had access to anonymised, highly aggregated data from all milk purchasers that operated a MCP on at least some of their supplying herds during 2019 or 2020. Data collection was undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. Data analysis was primarily descriptive. Data were available on 11 milk purchasers (64.7% of all) and 13,251 supplying herds. Of these, 52% were MCP herds. The quality of milk from supplying herds varied significantly by month, year and milk purchaser. During 2019 and 2020, there was a single Schedule 8 prescriber (a private veterinary practitioner prescribing intramammary AMs as part of a MCP), on average, for 549.3 herds. The sale of intramammary AM products through milk purchasers represented 15.2% and 26.9% of national sales in in-lactation and dry cow tubes, respectively. There was an overall 2% increase in sales through milk purchasers between 2019 and 2020. Few European Medicines Agency (EMA) category B (‘Restrict’) intramammary AM products were sold by milk purchasers. For both in-lactation and dry cow tubes, there was a statistically significant association between EMA classification and route of sale (through milk purchasers or otherwise). The study findings provide important insights into mastitis control and intramammary AM stewardship in the Irish dairy industry. Significant differences between milk purchasers were observed in the quality of milk, as measured through somatic cell count (SCC) values, from supplying herds. This warrants further research. In the context of intramammary AM prescribing, veterinary oversight under the Animal Remedies Regulation 2007 to 2017 was very limited during 2019 and 2020. There were also significant associations between EMA classification and route of sale during 2019 and 2020, reinforcing the need for Irish veterinary practitioners to move away from EMA category B intramammary AMs. Higher quality data are needed to address important industry questions. Specifically it is recommended that national bulk tank SCC data are made available for public good research. Past experiences with Schedule 8 prescribing (no longer permitted from 28 January 2022) may influence current efforts towards improved intramammary AM stewardship.

中文翻译：

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2019 年和 2020 年爱尔兰乳房内抗菌药物的处方和销售：牛奶购买者的作用

在爱尔兰，从 2008 年到 2022 年，兽医可以根据所谓的附表 8（或远程）处方开具乳房内抗菌 (AM) 产品。根据这种处方途径，如果符合 2007 年至 2017 年动物补救条例（第 786/2007 号和 558/2017 号法定文件）中概述的标准，则不需要每年进行一次畜群访问。在此处方路径下，牛奶购买者、农场主和兽医的责任都被列出，并且需要一份书面的乳腺炎控制计划 (MCP)。在兽医的支持下，牛奶购买者在参与的农场（所谓的 MCP 畜群）实施了 MCP，他们进行了附表 8 乳房内 AM 管的处方。本研究旨在更清楚地了解 2019 年和 2020 年本条例生效期间，牛奶购买者在爱尔兰乳房内 AM 产品的处方和销售中的作用。具体而言，该研究使用匿名和高度聚合的牛奶购买者数据，寻求深入了解 2019 年和 2020 年期间牛奶购买者在爱尔兰乳制品行业乳房内 AM 产品的处方和销售中的作用。该研究还提供了对这一时期供应牛群牛奶质量的见解。在这项研究中，我们可以访问所有在 2019 年或 2020 年期间至少对部分供应牛群使用 MCP 的牛奶采购商的高度汇总的匿名数据。数据收集由农业、食品和海洋部进行。数据分析主要是描述性的。有 11 个牛奶购买者（占总数的 64.7%）和 13,251 个供应牛群的数据可用。其中，52% 是 MCP 牛群。供应牛群的牛奶质量因月份、年份和牛奶购买者的不同而有很大差异。在 2019 年和 2020 年期间，平均有 549.3 个牛群有一个 Schedule 8 处方者（一名私人兽医开具乳房内 AM 作为 MCP 的一部分）。通过牛奶采购商销售的乳房内 AM 产品分别占哺乳期和干奶牛管全国销售额的 15.2% 和 26.9%。2019 年至 2020 年期间，牛奶采购商的销售额总体增长了 2%。牛奶采购商销售的欧洲药品管理局 (EMA) B 类（“限制”）乳房内 AM 产品很少。对于哺乳期和干奶牛试管，EMA 分类与销售途径（通过牛奶购买者或其他方式）之间存在统计显着关联。该研究结果为爱尔兰乳制品行业的乳腺炎控制和乳房内 AM 管理提供了重要见解。通过供应牛群的体细胞计数 (SCC) 值来衡量，牛奶购买者之间的牛奶质量存在显着差异。这值得进一步研究。在乳房内 AM 处方的背景下，2007 年至 2017 年动物补救条例下的兽医监督在 2019 年和 2020 年期间非常有限。在 2019 年和 2020 年期间，EMA 分类与销售途径之间也存在显着关联，这加强了对爱尔兰兽医从业者的需求远离 EMA B 类乳房内 AM。需要更高质量的数据来解决重要的行业问题。具体而言，建议将国家散装罐 SCC 数据提供给公益研究。附表 8 处方的过去经验（从 2022 年 1 月 28 日起不再允许）可能会影响目前为改善乳房内 AM 管理所做的努力。