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U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#31

Post by awjr »

maxerickson wrote: post #14
[deleted] wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

Lots of university extension websites discuss the use of antibiotic feed additives. They increase food energy conversion by something like 5%. They don't particularly enable "high energy rich feed that, naturally, the livestock could not cope with", but I guess they do reduce some issues associated with feeding corn (but that's probably a statistical thing, not an every single animal thing).

Feedlots use corn to fatten the beef herd before slaughter. Feeding a high corn diet to cattle can cause acidosis of the Rumen stomach (one the four compartments in cattle stomachs).

You can prevent this through feeding a more balanced feed mix however this slows down the fattening process.

Acidosis can cause the stomach to rupture. Antibiotics are used to help control this and deal with side effects of acidosis.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#32

Post by venomsnake »

CapitalistCartr wrote: post #2

The use of antibiotics in food stock should be banned completely. Saving a few cents per pound on meat isn't worth the damage to our antibiotic stock. Wanna give antibiotics to an animal, fine, but now it can't be used for food.

No they should be used. Just shouldn't be the way they are used now. Animal is sick - treat him, but first you must take every possible way to prevent disease in the first place. Like giving the animals space/grass and better fecal matter removal. Space the herd and you reduce drastically the chances of outbreak.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#33

Post by mdparker89 »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #11
cglace wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't there something more useful they could do with that milk than pour it away?

Possibly composted. That's about it.

Bacteria is needed for composting to happen. Milk with antibiotics in it would hurt that process.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#34

Post by toomuchtodo »

mdparker89 wrote: post #33
toomuchtodo wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly composted. That's about it.

Bacteria is needed for composting to happen. Milk with antibiotics in it would hurt that process.

If you're in a professional ag setting (farm, etc), that small amount of milk (and even smaller amount of antibiotics in said milk) should pale in comparison to the amount of material in your compost setup. Should be fine, although I'm willing to test this theory out.

Disclaimer: I'm not a farmer, but I do manage the IT/automation of my/a family farm.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#35

Post by Qworg »

jessaustin wrote: post #27
guelo wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why fortunately?

If mitchty is like all the former dairy farmers I know, it's because dairy farming is a lot of hard work, and it never ends . There are no weekends, and no holidays. I like raising beef cattle because many days you don't even have to look at them. (Not today though! Ice to break on the pond, for starters...)

I can agree with this 100% - much of my family out in Iowa raises dairy. They never get a vacation. Ever.

In regards to the announcement, without teeth, this won't cause any changes. External enforcement is absolutely necessary to make this stick.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#36

Post by sneak »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #34
mdparker89 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bacteria is needed for composting to happen. Milk with antibiotics in it would hurt that process.

If you're in a professional ag setting (farm, etc), that small amount of milk (and even smaller amount of antibiotics in said milk) should pale in comparison to the amount of material in your compost setup. Should be fine, although I'm willing to test this theory out. Disclaimer: I'm not a farmer, but I do manage the IT/automation of my/a family farm.

This seems like exactly the kind of "slowly and steadily select for antibiotic resistance in bacteria" behavior that they're trying to avoid with these changes.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#37

Post by redblacktree »

giarc wrote: post #18
arbitrage wrote: post #4

I hear that the FDA will also be releasing a recommendation to close the barn door after the cows get out. You just can't be too careful, you know.

You're right, this is long overdue, however hind sight is 20/20 and late is better than never.

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the second-best time is now.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#38

Post by fractallyte »

sliverstorm wrote: post #13
cglace wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't there something more useful they could do with that milk than pour it away?

It would have to be a non-food application, if we are trying to isolate the antibiotics. The only non-food application of milk that I am aware of is casein plastics.

And casein paint. Non-toxic, solvent free; used in 'traditional' building, along with other wonderful materials like lime plaster and wattle and daub.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#39

Post by krstck »

chaostheory wrote: post #17

This guidelines are just voluntary? What's the point? "'Our fear ... is that there will be no reduction in antibiotic use as companies will either ignore the plan altogether or simply switch from using antibiotics for routine growth promotion to using the same antibiotics for routine disease prevention,' said Steven Roach, senior analyst with advocacy group Keep Antibiotics Working."

Many food industry quality control practices are effectively determined by consumer demand rather than the FDA/USDA. It's often that, as a manufacturer, your customer audit will be more intensive than the government one. The feds just don't have enough auditors to really keep a close look on anything but the most "at risk" plants, so the food industry is basically watching itself in a circular manner. Retail food establishments are auditing their suppliers, who are auditing their suppliers, and so on.

Re: U.S. FDA to phase out some antibiotic use in animal production

#40

Post by krstck »

mronge wrote: post #21
chaostheory wrote: post #17

This guidelines are just voluntary? What's the point? "'Our fear ... is that there will be no reduction in antibiotic use as companies will either ignore the plan altogether or simply switch from using antibiotics for routine growth promotion to using the same antibiotics for routine disease prevention,' said Steven Roach, senior analyst with advocacy group Keep Antibiotics Working."

My understanding with FDA guidelines is they are always "voluntary" only in name. Companies effectively have to comply or the FDA will crack down very hard on the company.

Food companies are usually following a more-strict standard set by their customers.
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