The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recommended the food community stop using antibiotics routinely to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics that are important for human medicine. Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Acting Chief Scientist, said “The WHO guidelines are not in alignment with U.S. policy and are not supported by … Read More
Bavaria Offers Natural Antimicrobial Option in Livestock
The danger of overuse of antibiotics to promote growth in livestock has become a major concern to farmers, health workers, scientists and the general public. One solution is found in nature. Organosulphured compounds in plants in the Allium family, such as garlic and onions, have natural antimicrobial activity that provides benefits comparable to antibiotics without the risk they pose. Bavaria … Read More
New Tools Answer Consumer Questions about Beef
New tools are now available to help consumers answer questions like, “What’s the difference between grass-fed and organic beef? or “What’s antibiotic-free and raised without antibiotics?” and many others about today’s beef production from research conducted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and funded by the Beef Checkoff. “Today’s consumer demands transparency and more information about how their food, … Read More
Dairy FARM Program Updated Drug Residue Manual
The National Dairy FARM Program has released the 2017 edition of its Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual, the primary educational tool for dairy managers about the judicious, responsible use of antibiotics and how to prevent drug residues in milk and meat. The 2017 edition now identifies drugs subject to the newly implemented Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), and … Read More
Zoetis Introduces VFD Mobile App
Zoetis has introduced a mobile app for use on smartphones, helping simplify the process of writing a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) for AUREOMYCIN® (chlortetracycline) or AUREO S 700® (chlortetracycline/sulfamethazine) for their cattle clients. The app is available now for iOS (iPhone®) or Android™ phone operating systems. “Veterinarians now have the important responsibility of providing oversight and issuing VFDs for the … Read More
Study of Antibiotic Use on Farms & Resistant Salmonella
A team of interdisciplinary scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Charleston VA Medical Center Research Service recently reviewed published literature for evidence of a relationship between antibiotic use in agricultural animals and drug-resistant foodborne Salmonella infections in humans, commonly known as salmonellosis. According to the 2013 CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report, two of the eighteen pathogens … Read More
A Discussion on Responsible Antibiotic Use at #AFBF17
In a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2017 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show, Dr. Jennifer Wishnie, a veterinary public health expert, spoke about one of the hottest topics in animal agriculture – antibiotic resistance. “Many consumers don’t realize that there is veterinary oversight on the farm,” said Dr. Wishnie. “This gives us opportunities to educate them on … Read More
Pig Farmers Complying With New Antibiotic Rules
U.S. pig farmers are not only well aware of new federal rules for on-farm antibiotic use, they already are complying, according to a survey conducted by the National Pork Board in November. “The pork industry worked toward the Jan. 1 implementation date for nearly two years. There was a concern that some producers would not make changes until after the … Read More
Anaplasmosis Treatment in Beef Cattle Under VFD
In this week’s AnimalAgCast we discuss one of the most talked about issues in animal agriculture circles these days. January 2017 brought us the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Dr. Craig Payne, University of Missouri Extension, has spoke to a number of groups across the country educating vets and producers on the VFD and serving as a key resource for continued … Read More
Animal Health Community Redefines Antibiotic Use on Farm
The FDA has announced the full implementation of new policies redefining how antibiotics are used to treat food-producing animals. As of January 1, antibiotics similar to those used in human medicine that are medically important will no longer be used to promote growth in animals. Antibiotics in farm animals will only be for the purpose of fighting disease under the … Read More