Used properly, antibiotics necessary raising beef
Local vet says campaigns against their use are off the mark, and could put cattle at risk
A local veterinarian says beef “raised without antibiotics” may sound good to consumers, but isn’t practical, isn’t what’s advertised and could lead to “less responsible” animal stewardship.
Vet Jan Stalwick, of the Animal Medical Centre South in Dunmore, says a complete ban of antibiotics doesn’t make sense from an animal health and welfare standpoint.
She told an assembled crowd at the Country in the City pavilion at the Medicine Hat Stampede grounds on Friday that “reduced and prudent” use of antibiotics in beef production is a better road ahead.
That’s similar to new thinking about how antibiotics are used in human medicine, and would ease costs for ranchers and concerns for health conscious consumers.
But, she stressed, protocols and monitoring that is already in place to track animals and ensure antibiotics aren’t present in beef at the grocery store.
“Say what you will about the government, but there have always been steps in place to make sure food is safe,” she said. “And farmers and ranchers have been a big part of that.”
Each year Country in the City seeks to create a dialogue between urban and rural residents.
A growing part of that dialogue is food safety and concern on sourcing.
Antibiotic and hormone-free beef are pillars of a marketing campaign by A&W. The Alberta Beef Producers has been working to counteract that message with general awareness campaigns about stewardship and food quality.
Stalwick describes new consumer campaigns that boost up the benefits to no drug treatment in livestock as off the mark.
“It’s a compelling message, and you can see why people would think that,” she said.
“To have an animal that’s never needed antibiotics is ideal.”
However, she said, the situation is more nuanced and that there’s sound science and good practice behind prescribing antibiotics on a case-by-case basis.
Animals living in outdoor environments require medical intervention and can have open wounds from castration or birthing. Antibiotics are a proven treatment that can speed recovery. Medications are well studied and have certified withdrawal periods that must be observed before livestock is marketed or slaughtered, she said.
All beef that winds up on store shelf or restaurant plate has a minute amount of antibiotic in it, regardless of its medical history, she said.
The impression is that “zero tolerance” for antibiotics is best, but Stalwick recommends ranchers use them when they need them, consider animals individually, rather than give blanket doses to herds.
New veterinary supply regulations should also give consumers comfort, though she admits some ranchers are opposed.
Starting later this year most animal medicine will be distributed through vet offices, rather than farm supply stores, and vets will be available to offer advice.