The Need for Antibiotic Stewardship in Raising Animals without Antibiotics

   VBS Professor, Randall Singer is the first author on the paper, "Raising Animals without Antibiotics: U.S. Producer and Veterinarian Experiences and Opinions," which was published in a recent issue of Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

   This paper summarizes the effects of reducing antibiotics to maintain animal health due to the rise of antibiotic resistance globally. Some U.S. producers, especially in the poultry industry, have responded by eliminating their antibiotic use. The number of animals raised without antibiotics (RWA) is growing in the U.S., but there are concerns that RWA practices might negatively impact animal health and welfare. Veterinarians, farmers, ranchers, producers, and other stakeholders involved in raising broilers, turkeys, swine, beef cattle or dairy cattle were surveyed.

   Just over half of respondents reported having past or current experience with RWA programs, which are intended to supply customers, such as restaurants, grocers and other food service establishments, with meat, eggs, and dairy products that can be labeled as having never had exposure to antibiotics.

   Based on the responses, RWA production did not appear to be driven by prioritization of animal health and welfare. Many respondents felt that there are times when the RWA label takes priority over animal health and welfare. This observation was concerning, as protecting animal health and welfare is a key component of the veterinarian's oath.

   Dr. Singer and his research team concluded that, 'policies aimed at informing the consumer on the positive role of access to antibiotics in supporting good animal welfare while limiting risk of antibiotic resistance in humans are needed to address the current information gap. Veterinarians in animal agriculture must continue to develop antibiotic stewardship programs to optimize the selection, dosing and administration of antibiotics and to ensure that antibiotics are used only when necessary.'