Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 10/19/15


Antibiotics use in food animals has become such a hot button issue that the North American Meat Institute put the topic on the agenda of last week’s Animal Care and Handling Conference in Kansas City.

After speaking at the conference, Clinical Practice Veterinarian at the University of Nebraska Bradley Jones was asked what he saw as the most common piece of misinformation about antibiotics use in food animals.

“That antibiotic-free animals are better for us,” Jones responded.

“There is nothing worse than letting an animal suffer,” he added, noting that because food animals raised for “antibiotic free” programs must be taken out of the supply chain if they become sick and are treated with antibiotics, he is concerned that some animals might not be treated as soon as they show signs of possible illness, so that they can be slaughtered as “antibiotic free” animals.  

His point was that while there is nothing unsafe about meat from a treated animal, withholding that treatment allowed that animal to suffer needlessly. Meat products are routinely tested to ensure they do not contain drug residues, making meat from treated animals safe for human consumption.        

Acknowledging, however, that minimizing antibiotics use in general makes good sense in the fight against antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens, Jones outlined some animal husbandry practices that can reduce illness outbreaks in food animals.
Vaccinating animals against disease is one pre-emptive measure that farmers and ranchers can take.

Another is stress reduction, which can improve the animal’s immune system. The way cattle are weaned on the farm can either create or reduce stress. For example, calves are weaned on the farm where they can still be near the mother will be less stressed than those taken abruptly. Care taken in the way animals are transported can also help reduce stress.

Good nutrition also helps animals resist infection. Good parasite management is another important aspect. Breeding also helps produce stronger, more disease-resistant animals.

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