Antibiotic use discussed in Washington, DC

Livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings this week in Washington, DC about antibiotic use in raising food animals two weeks after a CBS Evening News report questioned the practice.

The informational sessions were co-hosted by several US livestock groups, among which the National Pork Producers Council. Other groups involved the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Chicken Council, National Milk Producers Federation, National Turkey Federation, American Meat Institute and National Meat Association.

The briefings were held in cooperation with US representatives from both Democratic and Republican background and included US livestock and poultry health experts.

Health and resource efficiency
“Maintaining access to FDA-approved safe and effective technologies, including animal health products, helps ensure both the health and resource efficiency of US herds and flocks,” said Dr Guy Loneragan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at West Texas A&M University.

Many organisations and scientists in the USA point out that “there is no conclusive scientific evidence that shows the use of antibiotics on farms contributes significantly to an increase in antibiotic resistance in humans.” They add that there is a growing body of evidence that the responsible, professional use of these products keeps animals healthy and enhances animal welfare while not contributing to resistance.

Europe
Activist groups claim the contrary, and the CBS report included a look at the Denmark antibiotics ban. For reasons of potential antibiotic resistance, in the whole of the European Union, the use of antibiotics as growth promotor has been banned since January 2006. In the EU, producers can still use them for disease control purposes.

“We use antibiotics judiciously and responsibly to protect the health of our herds and to produce safe pork,” said Craig Rowles, DVM. “We know that a ban on antibiotics, like the one in Denmark, will have adverse affects on our pigs, will raise the cost of production and will not provide a benefit to public health.”

Antibiotics act
Nearly a year ago legislation titled the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act was introduced in the House by representative Louise Slaughter and in the Senate by the late senator Edward Kennedy and 17 co-sponsors.

The livestock and poultry groups oppose the legislation.