AG- Congressional hearing considers antibiotic use in animals

7/14/2010 8:56:00 PM
By: Stephanie Pawlowski

The issue of antibiotic use in animal agriculture came before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee this week. It's not new for either side of the argument, but Illinois Pork Producers Association Public Relations Director Tim Maiers says there are still misunderstandings about antibiotic use in livestock.

   
Maiers says resistance is an issue, but he believes more research needs to be done before widespread decisions are made regarding antibiotic use in animal agriculture.

   
Maiers says producers take animal welfare seriously, and they consider the use of antibiotics an important tool in raising those animals.

   
One of the people testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee was Dr. Gail Hansen, who's a senior officer with the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming. That group states that up to 70-percent of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are given to healthy food animals on industrial farms to promote growth and compensate for the effects of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. Maiers says that statistic is misleading.

   
Government witnesses told Congress, antibiotics need to be used more judiciously in livestock - based on evidence the drugs are causing cases of antibiotic resistance to illnesses in humans. USDA Chief Veterinarian John Clifford told the panel that the department feels producers should use anti-microbial drugs judiciously.

   
Clifford told lawmakers producers are trying to be responsible.

   
It's clear so far - USDA and most ag panel members oppose the ban proposed by Democratic Congressman Louise Slaughter of New York.

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