Antibiotics in Meat

[so lucky]

Sounds like the FDA is trying to get a lot of the routine antibiotics out of meat production. 'Bout time!!:/

 

[bobm]

Think twice of what one wishes for ! I have raised all types of livestock all of my life... there are many times when an animal gets sick or injured and it may take a Vet 1-2 days to just talk to you much less come to your farm. Most large animal Vets won't even come out for a chicken,duck, turkey, rabbit, sheep goat, and charge an arm and a leg for horses and cattle for a farm visit. Since this FDA fiasco will require a Vet to prescribe any antibiotic and only after a Vet call , most of the animals that are now saved by providing immediate medication will now be buried . This will impact the back yard farmers in a very negative financial way. Many will be put of out of the "small farm " , "local " , " homestead " , and " self sufficient " production business. While the large ranches and dairies have a Vet in residence or on priority call bases, so what is the small guy to do ? ... in any event the small operations will be on a slippery road to ruin. Is the back yard garden next for Big Brother to put his nose into our gardening ventures ? Only time will tell.

 

[thistlebloom]

So Lucky, do you mean the antibiotics that are included in feed and fed every day?

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is what I could find on it. Ill not guarantee it is the most up-to-date version but I think it is pretty close.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Animal...Enforcement/GuidanceforIndustry/UCM299624.pdf

They are taking an interesting approach on this one. It is a guideline, a recommendation but not binding. They are calling it voluntary and all that, but I would not count on it staying that way. There is a lot of arm-twisting involved. Instead of making it voluntary for the people raising the animals, they are getting the drug companies to change the labelling, which in effect makes it illegal for people to use the drugs as it was previously. When this foes into effect (target is within 3 years) youll have to get a vet to write a prescription. He cant just write a generic prescription, he has to suspect that something is wrong and needs treating, though it looks like there might be a few loopholes in that, such as treating from stress of relocating a herd or flock.

Normally with these things, you can look at exemptions and definitions and find out who this applies to. Most of the time its pointed toward the big companies operating across state lines or selling internationally. Small local operations and backyard herds or flocks for personal use are normally exempt. By going after the drug companies, Im not sure the small folks are exempt on this one.

Its still preliminary and open for comment. This one might be one that is worth contacting your congressman and asking him how this affects you treating a flock of backyard chickens or a personal milk cow or BJs goats if they become sick. We dont need to spend the money for a vet to issue a prescription for these small flocks.

 

[so lucky]

Well, I understand it to be aimed toward the meat producers who automatically feed antibiotics to their animals on a daily basis, to "help them grow." And it is only going to be voluntary. Seems to me if one is feeding their cows antibiotics on a daily basis, if they get sick, that same antibiotic wouldn't be much good.
I'll not say anymore, as I don't want to start an argument on here.

 

[curly_kate]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's another good idea poorly executed by the government. CAFOs need to institute more sanitary practices instead of pumping their livestock full of antibiotics, but as usual, the small farmer is going to get caught up in the red tape.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think youve got it about right, So Lucky. That is supposed to be the intent, stop people from feeding antibiotics as a preventative to meat animals when there is no indication anything is wrong. At least thats how I understand it.

This looks to be a pretty preliminary, a document to get the conversation started. It doesnt go into specifics and that is where it can get tricky. If it is intended for the big boys only (and that is where the vast majority of the meat comes from so you get more bang for your buck) it needs language in there that says us little folk are not covered. I dont see that.

CurlyKate, its not executed yet. Its something like someone telling you theyd like to buy a cow from you. That just starts the conversation, it doesnt mean youve settled on a final price or even if you want to sell that specific cow. It does bear watching.