October 29, 2013
US experts refute calls against antibiotic use in livestock
Experts have debunked calls against the use of antibiotics in the US livestock industry during a teleconference hosted by the Animal Agriculture Alliance, in conjunction with the National Chicken Council and other livestock and poultry producers.
The meeting, which was organised to discuss advances in the industry, presented in a report titled "Advances in Animal Agriculture; What the Center for a Livable Future, Pew Commission and Others Aren''t Telling You About Food Production", gathers figures from the government and academic field.
Dr Richard Raymond, formerly the Under Secretary of USDA''s Food Safety Inspection Service, criticised groups like the Pew Commission for attempting to shut down livestock and meat production, and misleading public perception.
"If we raise animal the way (they) want us to raise, the price of a hamburger would be like what it is in Switzerland… it would a hundred dollars, and many Americans would not be able to put meat on the table," Dr Raymond cautioned as he earlier pointed out that the US is providing the safest and most affordable food supply in the world.
He also downplayed popular viewpoint that 80% of antibiotics sold in the US have been used in animals. "If you want to have a discussion about antibiotics, then let''s narrow it down the 18% where there''s cross-over between human and animal medicine" said Dr Raymond, alleging that the Pew Commission has yet to debate on the matter. In addition, he noted that the Food and Drug Administration is currently ensuring the proper use of antibiotics on farms by proposing to ban the use of those which are employed in human medicine.
According to Dr Raymond, an FDA report had confirmed that food-borne diseases like salmonella are developing minimal to zero resistance against treatment drugs of choice.
Dr John Glisson, formerly head of the Department of Avian Medicine at the University of Georgia, and vice president of the US Poultry & Egg Association, reveals the serious consequences which followed after the EU decided to impose a ban on antibiotics. "The results are disastrous… I have never seen such an increase in sick animals in my life," said Dr Glisson. "The FDA has taken a more thoughtful and deliberate route towards achieving what we want, which is to mitigate any risk to human health, but at the same time, preserving tools meant to maintain animal health."
Underscoring the adverse impact such a development can bring, Dr Raymond highlighted a 110% increase in antibiotic use to treat sick livestock in Denmark, with several of those consisting of substances critical to human health.
Meanwhile, other topics were also discussed during the teleconference. Dr Janeen Salak-Johnson, associate professor of animal science at the University of Illinois, called for a more pragmatic approach towards managing swine and poultry well-being.
Dr Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality extension specialist at the University of California, talked about a major project to develop a methodology of international standard to determine the greenhouse effect of livestock production on the environment. The result of the project is expected to be revealed in two years'' time.