Agricultural News
Strong Veterinarian-Client Relationship Important in Judicious Use of Antibiotics, NCBA Vet Says
Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:16 CST
Antibiotic use in beef cattle and its relationship to antibiotic resistance is not very well understood among the general public says Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinary officer with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. She says we need to use antibiotics, but we need to make sure the public understands we're using them responsibly, especially those antibiotics that are used both in animal agriculture and for treating humans.
"The Food and Drug Administration has put out guidance documents with regards to antibiotics. They are guidance documents 209, 213 and their veterinary feed directive advocate for the judicious and thoughtful use of antimicrobials and stress the importance of a veterinarian-client patient relationship in making antibiotic decisions.
"We at NCBA have long supported the judicious use of antimicrobials in cattle. Since 1987 our Beef Quality Assurance program has had guidelines for the judicious use of antimicrobials. We stress the importance to all our producers of having a strong veterinarian-client patient relationship.
"We found on our most recent national 2012 national beef audit that it was stated that our producers, 90 percent of them, reported having a veterinarian-client patient relationship. And I think that places us in position to move forward with FDA to try to prevent antimicrobial resistance from occurring. None of us want to have that happen. I believe that we are currently working in that area and working effectively."
Dr. Simmons emphasized that the benefits of a good veterinarian-client patient relationship go beyond just the effective and safe use of antibiotics.
"It is certainly important with the antimicrobials. You want to have an informed use of antimicrobials to avoid the resistance problem. You want to use them for the right period of time and in the right number of animals. That's important, but I think it's also important on a production level. I think your veterinarian can help you in consultation on nutrition issues, in some of the production and husbandry issues that are basic. Many times we do know these things and it helps to have another viewpoint."
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...