Source: Julie Larson Bricher, MEATINGPLACE, 8/9/18


The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) has released a position statement with suggestions to aid cattle producers and the veterinary profession in their responsibility for maintaining herd health and welfare.

According to GRSB, just 89 countries report having a system in place to collect data on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals and about 40 percent of countries report they have not yet developed national action plans.

In a press release announcing the availability of its Statement on Antimicrobial Stewardship, GRSB president Nicole Johnson-Hoffman said, “Antimicrobial resistance is a major global threat to human and animal health. This statement reflects what GRSB members believe should be done by the beef value chain to manage antimicrobials responsibly. This guidance is especially important for places in the world that lack structures to support responsible antibiotic use."

The GRSB antimicrobial statement is aligned with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidance and equivalents adopted in other countries for antimicrobial use in cattle, according to the group.

U.S. beef producer and GRSB member Erika Murphy said the guidance on antimicrobial resistance is helpful. “I am asked about this topic on a regular basis from consumers and I can now direct people to this AMR statement to help educate, reassure and reach a better understanding on what the beef industry is doing, as well as explain how we apply it in our own herd management practices."

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