Looking at the world from its medicated feed perspective two blocks are aptly notable: the European Union and the United States of America. The use of antibiotics for growth promotion motive in the EU was banned in January 2006. At present, there are calls to have the therapeutics drugs withdrawn from animal feeds.

Nevedi, a Dutch organization in the animal feeds sector, for instance, is pushing for a stop in the use of therapeutic antibiotics in feeds soonest possible, this is together with livestock producers and veterinarians. Nevedi is pushed by the fact that it would like to help in the research to solve the problem of antibiotics resistance in humans and animals.

Inline with the said problem is that medicated feeds are a burden to the feed millers; this is due to the fact that there are high chances of contamination as the feeds are being handled. Currently detectors have the ability to detect the tiniest of particles in both feeds and animal products.

Different approach

Could the system be any different in the U.S, where earlier this week the Food and Drug Administration sanctioned florfenicol for use in the so-called “Type B Medicated feed” for pigs? With Type A medicated feeds already available, it goes without saying that it was mixed with licensed feed mills.

The new type means that it can now be used as a premix in all feed mills, with found on-farm included. This will lead to a situation of overuse as the product as it is considered to be effective to many respiratory diseases in swine. The manufacture of the drug states that producers have that opportunity to control respiratory diseases in pigs as the product is easy to use.

The effectiveness of the drug is not in question, as the A, B and C connotations in drugs are applicable to drugs used in the medical arena, however, what remains to be a doubt is the ease in which the dugs are administered. This is in addition to that fact that even pigs that are well are going to have a dosage of the drug despite the fact that they do not require it.

Trade issues

The antibiotic use diversity also provides trade barriers. Not having access to the EU is one of the things keeping the exports of the industry down according to the spokesperson of the US National Pork Producers Council.

Public health could be protected if their use was brought down, there are fewer antibiotic bugs, and this would help improve US producers position in the global market place. Better management and fewer antibiotics are helping Europe in animal production.

With the US producers not ready to change their ways then it is most likely that the current development may lead the industry into the path of auto industry.

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