An ambitious goal to cut down livestock antibiotic usages in Belgium has been unveiled by the Center of Expertise on Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals (AMCRA).

Called the Vision 2020 Plan, the initiative introduces 10 objectives and principles targeted at a 50% decrease in Belgium's veterinary antibiotic applications by 2020. 

In particular, AMCRA is seeking for a 75% cut-down in key antibiotics during the same year, and 50% for antibiotics delivered through animal feed, by 2017.  

Other actions supporting Vision 2020 include data collection on antibiotic use, assistance to farms in animal health management, and benchmarking breeders and veterinarians.

AMCRA also intends to promote alternate solutions to antibiotics which have been blamed for causing drug resistance among livestock.

Sales of antibiotics have reportedly declined in Belgium, with AMCRA being named as playing a pivotal role in the development.

The organisation's efforts in the Belgian livestock sector is said to have contributed to a 12.7% drop in national sales of antibiotics (for all species) during 2011-13. In 2013, a 17.1% reduction is seen in key antibiotics when comparing to 2012. 

With the revelation of AMCRA's latest plan, a major awareness campaign will be launched to encourage a change of approach towards livestock antibiotics.