News

Research strategy on animal ag/antibiotics

A national strategy has been unveiled for food animal production’s role in reducing antibiotic resistance. It comes from a task force of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

Research will play a heavy role in the strategy. Studies will be developed to estimate the economic impact of implementing FDA Guidance and changes to the Veterinary Feed Directive for both producers and consumers. The strategy includes working with Congress and the USDA to help resolve the lack of access to veterinarians in many rules areas of the country.

Dr. Lonnie King, a former dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Science, co-chaired the task force. He says “antibiotic resistance is biologically complex and poorly understood.” University of Illinois president emeritus Robert Easter is the other co-chair who says it is now time to take action.