By Julie Tomascik
A place, a time and a reason. Antibiotics are just a small piece of the livestock puzzle.
It’s a complex situation. And it takes a team of experts—like veterinarians—and ranchers working together. Analyzing animal health and making smart decisions.
Responsible antibiotic use on the farm and ranch is a safe practice. A needed practice. It encompasses animal welfare and public health with a focus on the best outcome for all involved. Including you and me.
Antibiotics have a tough reputation. But, in agriculture, it’s just one of the many tools to raise healthy animals.
I’m sure even Old MacDonald worked with a veterinarian. A farmer with that many animals had to have questions and need guidance. Just like our farmers today.
And there’s more…
Here are five antibiotic measures you might not have “herd.”
1) A vet is on call. Day or night. That solid relationship with a veterinarian, or two, helps make certain livestock are well-cared for.
2) Antibiotic treatment is case-specific. For one, a herd or a flock. Catch it quickly and administer treatment so it doesn’t spread. And put all livestock at risk.
3) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Farmers and ranchers won’t stand for sick animals. So they vaccinate. Taking a proactive stance against disease.
4) There’s the Veterinary Feed Directive. It’s coming Jan. 1, 2017. And it’s a big change driven by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It aims to eliminate antibiotic use for growth promotion. And increases veterinarian oversight. Farmers and ranchers are embracing it.
5) All meat is antibiotic-free. Yup. Walk up to the meat counter, make your selection and take it home. Knowing your food is safe.
Dynamic. Ever-changing. Yet traditional and grounded in principles. Animal agriculture is built on a strong foundation. With the flexibility to adapt. The resources to grow. And the determination to succeed.
As a small rancher I am NOT embracing it. I live in Santa Fe, TX. There is a small animal vet & one that I call a horse vet. He could care less about cows.The closest real vet is in Alvin, TX. He has an understudy but t you still have to make an appointment days in advance. BUT the animal needs medication NOW. What am I supposed to do? No, I am definitely not embracing this new law. Like most laws, The people who write them only have their view & could care less about someone else’s situation which could be something they haven’t even imagined.
Hi, Roger. Farmers and ranchers—small and larger—across the state are embracing the VFD. But there are also those who have concerns as you do. There is no telling how often that scenario will fall out.
Hopefully your cattle will not need medicated feed or water to treat or prevent disease. A valid vet-client-patient relationship on file will help expedite the process should the need for medicated feed arise. Developing and building that relationship with a veterinarian will be beneficial for all involved.
Where can I verify that No Antibiotics are in the grocery meat food chain in Texas?
Hi, David. All meat and poultry in a grocery store has been verified free of antibiotics and other residues by the Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS). That’s one of the many reasons American consumers have the safest and healthiest food supply in the world.
FSIS’ National Residue Program is a multi-component, analytical testing program for residues in domestic and imported meat, poultry and egg products. This program has been in effect since 1967 and provides a variety of sampling plans to prevent concerning levels of residues from entering the food supply. The program also provides national data on the occurrence of chemical residues to support risk assessment, enforcement and educational activities.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov