BANFF, Alta. – When growing antibiotic resistance was reported in Europeans last year, the European community banned many commonly used drugs.
Fear of more antibiotic resistance in North Americans is forcing changes here as well.
While there is little evidence linking farm use of antibiotics to problems among humans, one scientist believes change is inevitable.
“Nobody is proposing we farm without antibiotics,” said John Prescott, a bacteriologist at the Ontario Veterinary College at Guelph.
But intensive livestock operations may be forced to examine their widespread use of antibiotics to prevent disease and promote growth in the animals.
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During the Banff pork seminar, Prescott discussed emerging international policies for the use of antimicrobials consumed in water and feed. The medications are sold over the counter and there is no complete information on the extent of their use.
“I used to think it was not that serious,” he said.
He has since changed his mind.
Prescott said Canada has little hard data on the non-human use of antibiotics, so a livestock committee was established to advise Health Canada.
More monitoring
He predicts more scrutiny on future uses of veterinary antibiotics. This may result in removal or greater regulations on growth and health promoting antibiotics. Prescott anticipates a stricter certification process for farms and greater monitoring of drug use.
The debate linking resistance problems to antibiotics given to animals has been ongoing for 30 years.
It is known the extensive use of antibiotics among humans is causing more resistant bacteria. And strains of food-borne bacteria causing stubborn illness in people have emerged.
In Sweden and Denmark where growth-promoting medications are no longer permitted, farming without these drugs has presented a challenge.
Improved animal husbandry, new diets and better housing have addressed problems like piglet diarrhea.
Denmark has not used antibiotics for growth promotion in a year.
A farmer survey reported 61 percent of farmers questioned had no problems, while 17 percent had temporary problems. Seven percent reported persistent health problems.
