
Agricultural News
Dr. Kathy Simmons- Beef Producers Doing Better and Better Job of Judiciously Using Antibiotics
Thu, 12 Mar 2020 07:32:33 CDT
On today's Beef Buzz, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director, Ron Hays, talks with Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinary officer for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, about the great success story of how producers have reduced the use of antibiotics.
The common practice of using antibiotics in food animal production has evolved from the standard treatment of all animals to now only treating animals that are sick or at risk of becoming ill.
"We don't tell our good story on antimicrobial use often enough," Simmons said.
She points to the expanded BQA certification program as the main factor in reducing antibiotics.
Participation in the Center for Disease Control's antimicrobial resistant challenge in recent years has shown phenomenal results, Simmons said, as the BQA certification of producers has increased 400 percent. The BQA program stresses the proper use of animal health products, including antibiotics.
On the international level, Simmons notes rapid changes are occurring there also, as the U.S. ag animal industry has been working on a satisfactory international food safety standards document.
The NCBA is part of an antimicrobial task force to establish a code of practice document that we can all live with, Simmons said. That document is expected to be adopted this summer.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the complete interview with Dr. Simmons as she talks with Ron Hays.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is 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.
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