Livestock Groups Launch Website on Antibiotic Changes

Randall Weiseman Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Livestock, Pork

Several major agricultural groups launched a website to provide information on the Food and Drug Administration’s new rules that will change how antibiotics are used to keep animals healthy. The groups include the Animal Health Institute, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

A news release from the Animal Health Institute says the new website address is togetherABX.Com. The new policy is effective on January 1 of 2017 and stops the use of antibiotics similar to those used in humans for animal growth purposes. The new policy also requires producers to consult veterinarians when antibiotics used to fight disease in humans are also used to fight disease in livestock.

Human and animal health experts agree that antibiotic resistance is a public concern. That’s why animal production rules use guidelines that ensure that antibiotics can be used to keep food animals healthy while not posing a threat to human health because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters News Service)