Source:  Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 7/16/10

A USDA official told a Congressional panel there is likely a link between agricultural antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in humans.

 “USDA believes that it is likely that the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture does lead to some cases of antibacterial resistance among humans and in the animals themselves, and it is important that these medically important antibiotics be used judiciously,” Dr. John Clifford, APHIS’s deputy administrator for veterinary services, told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health during a hearing Wednesday.

Clifford also discussed the future of the USDA’s role, saying that the USDA wants to expand current partnerships with other federal agencies—and develop new ones.

 “We need to work together to conduct research and develop new therapies that protect and preserve animal health, without increasing the risk of resistance to medically important antibiotics,” Clifford said in prepared testimony.

 “We must identify alternative animal health management techniques – tools and technologies, including newer and better vaccines and diagnostic tests. That portion of the partnership would extend beyond our federal partners to farmers and producers themselves,” he added. “USDA wants to partner with them to facilitate the judicious use of antibiotics in ways that are feasible to farmers and ranchers.”

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