Cattlemen Take Antimicrobial Commitment “Very Seriously”
US – The President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has underlined the importance of antimicrobial stewardship during the White House Forum on Antibiotics.
19 June 2015
1 minute read
Philip Ellis, a Wyoming cattleman, said it was a “great opportunity” to highlight what ranchers are doing to support judicious use drugs.
He highlighted the NCBA’s place in educating its members on the merits of antimicrobial drug use within segments of the beef sector, as well as in reaching out to consumers, regulators and the general public.
“NCBA supports actions based on sound, peer-reviewed science and risk assessment relative to the use of antibiotics or other drugs,” said Ellis. “We encourage the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs through the guidance offered in the BQA program.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a complex and multi-faceted problem that is best addressed in a One Health approach that brings together stakeholders from human medicine, veterinary medicine and environmental science.”
He added that the Beef Quality Assurance programme outlines the principals of judicious use.
Recent legislation has reviewed the veterinary role in prescribing drugs and brought in stricter rules on using classes of antimicrobials that are critically important for human health in livestock production.
Looking ahead, Mr Ellis said the NCBA will continue to cooperate with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to bring the medically-important antibiotics used in feed and water under veterinary oversight and to eliminate use of antimicrobials for feed efficiency and growth promotion purposes by December 2016.
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