Congressional Members, Livestock Groups Hold Educational Briefings on Antibiotics
March 2, 2010
Congressional Members, Livestock Groups Hold Educational Briefings on Antibiotics
On February 23, livestock and poultry groups hosted educational briefings on Capitol Hill to share the facts about the importance of tools like antibiotics in raising healthy food animals. The informational sessions were co-hosted by NMPF, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association through beef checkoff funding, the National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, American Meat Institute, and National Meat Association.
The briefings were held in cooperation with U.S. Reps. David Scott (D-GA), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), Zack Space (D-OH), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA). Top livestock and poultry health experts from across the country presented information to attendees, including dairy producer and NMPF Animal Health Committee member Dr. Leon Weaver of Montpelier, OH (at left in the photo).
Weaver, who is also a veterinarian, told the congressional staff that “The U.S. dairy industry conducts more than 3.3 million tests each year on all milk entering dairy plants to ensure that antibiotics are kept out of the milk supply. According to the most recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data, less than one tanker in 3,800 tests positive for any animal drug residues, including antibiotics. In those rare cases, any milk that tests positive is disposed of immediately and does not get into the food supply.
Dr. Guy Loneragan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at West Texas A&M University and expert on beef cattle, said that “Prompt and judicious use of efficacious antibiotics is critical for the successful treatment and, at times, control of specific bacterial diseases in cattle. Certain FDA-approved antibiotics also enable us to significantly improve the efficiency of beef production.”
