Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 1/29/15

Chuck Hofacre laments that the questions he gets from reporters about the food animal industry’s use of antibiotics — such as the doozy about how it gobbles up 80 percent of all antibiotics — are clearly misinformed, but he doesn’t really have the data to help set them straight. No one does, he adds.

The director of clinical services at University of Georgia’s Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center told attendees here at the International Production & Processing Expo that until the industry knows how much antibiotics are being used and how they’re being used, such inaccurate claims will continue to persist in the minds of consumers.

“We’re going to have to get a handle on this antibiotic use,” he said.

Hofacre said efforts are under way within the pork and poultry industries, as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA, to get a measure of their use of antibiotics. He said that until then, the industry will continue to take the brunt of the blame for antimicrobial resistance even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the vast majority of antimicrobial resistance is attributable to use in human medicine.

“We need to be the spokespersons and help consumers understand how complex this is,” he said.

Nevertheless, Hofacre said there is no denying that the food animal industry’s use of antibiotics has had an impact. And with the federal government’s push to reduce that use, it is time for the industry to measure that impact and find ways to minimize it, he added.

The focus for the industry should be on disease prevention, minimizing the need for treatment with antibiotics, Hofacre said, calling for more research funding on animal diseases and the development of more effective vaccines.

USDA recently made funds available for research on careful assimilation of non-antibiotic practices in the poultry system, he noted.

Hofacre said he believes reducing antibiotics use in livestock and poultry will create a healthier food animal supply and more confident consumers.

“It’s the best thing for both animal health and human health,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming. I think it’s going to be a good thing.”

All phases of FDA’s guidelines urging elimination of growth-promoting antibiotics in animal production and requiring veterinarian approval for use of those deemed medically important for human health are to take effect in December 2016.

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