Total usage in livestock production and pet health dropped 167,000 kilos to 1.452 milion kilos, according to the Consumer Protection and Food Safety office (BVL).

The release of ‘reserve’ antibiotics remained ‘very low level’ as part of national efforts from agriculture and animal health bodies to minimize drug resistance risk.

Reacting to the data, a German Farmers’ Association (DBV) spokesperson said: “Agriculture is taking the problem of resistant bacteria in livestock seriously and is aware of its responsibility.

“Consumers are also aware of the dangers.”

Antimicrobial monitoring has been running for three years in Germany and the DBV is on board with plans to reduce usage.

But the spokesperson stressed it was not a case of completely stopping usage: “We must be clear that suffering animals need effective drug treatment. This is why a general waiver of antibiotics is not possible.”