Wednesday, September 14th 2016
This week, the Animal Health Institute, National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Animal Agriculture Alliance launched a new website: www.togetherABX.com, which provides “information about how the Food and Drug Administration’s new policy will change the way antibiotics are used to keep food animals healthy,” a release from the groups said. The new rules mean antibiotics for livestock that are similar to those used in humans will no longer be used for animal growth purposes. In addition, the policy requires a veterinarian/client/patient relationship, meaning a veterinarian must supervise antibiotic use on farms. Protecting animal health is vital to producers, and consumers need to understand that the mantra, “No antibiotics. Ever,” is not necessarily good welfare for animals, any more than withholding antibiotics from children when they’re sick would be a logical course of action. In addition, it’s widely known through extensive research that the vast majority of potential antibiotic resistance is due to overuse and/or improper use of antibiotics by humans. Nonetheless, antibiotic resistance is a public health concern. That is why animal production practices include judicious use guidelines to ensure that antibiotics can be used to keep food animals healthy, while minimizing the chance of resistant bacteria impacting human health. Visit the site at www.togetherABX.com.