I have argued long and hard for the end of the non therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock. #AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) is to be applauded for its calls for action at the G20 and UN General Assembly and their ability to interact with Government.
The attached report goes one step further calling for alternate measures to be sued as a first line of defence to improve animal hygiene and sanitation.
Nothing has disturbed me more than the failure of microbial management in livestock and the lack of government regulation to protect this precious resource.
The findings in this report are a valuable step in changing the government’s approach through economic reasoning and stricter control of the prescribed use of antibiotics in livestock.
Its not only livestock that are at risk humans also suffer from these current practices.
A high percentage of antibiotics can pass through animals into the environment. Up to 90% of an antibiotic dose can be excreted in their urine and up to 75% in their faeces. More antibiotics are used in poultry, equine, swine and cattle to promote growth and prevent disease than are used by the entire human population.
