Editorial: US Industry Takes the Battle over Antibiotics to the Top

This week, a coalition of 20 US-based organisations related to animal agriculture sent a letter to the White House over the current proposal to curb the use of animal antibiotics in farming.

According to the coalition's letter, US farmers and ranchers – and most consumers – are more confident knowing animal health care, assistance and advice are provided by veterinarians and animal scientists, not by PhD issue advocates or animal rights activists.

It continues that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has always been an agency which makes regulatory decisions based on science and over time has done an exemplary job of standing apart from political battles. Since his inauguration, President Obama’s repeated pledge to base his Administration’s regulatory decisions on 'the best available science' and 'the rule of law' gives the coalition confidence the Administration will not embrace an ill-advised, politically motivated call to curb on-farm uses of antibiotics.

The coalition states it wishes to continue discussions on the issue with the leadership of FDA.

Earlier this year, in a written testimony, Joshua Sharfstein, Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, had said antibiotics should only be used in farm animals that are sick, and only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Further evidence of the rapid decline in the US turkey industry has been published this week. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, turkey eggs in incubators went down 10 per cent and seven per cent fewer poults were hatched during July compared to the same month in 2008.

Finally, let us all spare a thought for Taiwan's poultry producers, who are now known to have lost 5.7 million chickens and 1.07 million ducks in the wake of Typhoon Morakot - on top of the tragic loss of human lives. Officials estimate that it will take at least six weeks for the industry to recover, which may be rather optimistic.

Jackie Linden

Chicken Coops for sale ThePoultrySite shop now features a wide range of chicken coops, chicken arks and hen houses ideal for the back garden all the way to commercial use.

Diseases Of Poultry: A Colour Atlas This book, designed for veterinarians, veterinary students, poultry farmers and poultry specialists, includes more than 50 diseases from avian infectious pathology and a similar number from non-infectious pathology.

Histopathology and Cytology of Poultry Diseases: A Colour Atlas Following the the first Colour Atlas, this latest edition is a more in-depth and specialised book on poultry diseases. The subject matter is divided into units on an etiological basis, with the idea of more convenient laboratory diagnostics.

This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

IT Disaster Recovery Plan is Essential
US - A recent conference for the poultry industry highlighted the importance of a disaster recovery plan following an IT catastrophe. Two presentations were made by Cobb.

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Finalists for Pfizer Poultry Trainee of Year Award
UK - Three poultry workers from Lincolnshire and Norfolk have been chosen as finalists competing for the 2009 Pfizer Poultry Trainee of the Year Award.

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Trade Vet Promotes Orego-Stim at SAPA
SOUTH AFRICA - Trade Vet exhibited at SAPA in April earlier this year to continue with the promotion of Orego-Stim Liquid, the 100 per cent natural liquid additive for use through the drinking water from Meriden Animal Health.

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Global Poultry Industry News

United Kingdom

 » Defra, FSA Report Analyses Impacts of GM on Imports
 » RSPCA's Supermarket Animal Welfare Competition
 » Diagnostic Testing for Pig and Poultry Industries

General

 » Australia to Host IPC Annual Meeting

United States

 » FACT Petitions to End Poultry Litter as Cattle Feed
 » American Poultry Historical Society Honours Krueger
 » Poultry Growers Join Forces
 » Could Viruses Promote Health?
 » Monthly US Turkey Hatchery Report
 » Coalition Voices Opposition to Animal Antibiotic Ban
 » Weekly Outlook: Corn, Soybean Production Forecasts
 » Poultry Company Faces Health Fines
 » Adopted Chickens Lay More Humane Eggs
 » CME: Good News for Meat Product Buyers
 » Weekly US Broiler Hatchery Report
 » PSA Holds 98th Annual Meeting in Raleigh

Philippines

 » Animal Production on the Rise in the Philippines
 » Tariff Reduction on Pork, Poultry Products Sought

Canada

 » Options for Lower Quality Crops Evaluated
 » CFIA Enhances Animal Disease Reporting

Taiwan

 » Livestock Industries Suffer in the Wake of Typhoon

Australia

 » Woolworths Cuts Cage-Egg Lines
 » Poultry Farmer Backs Woolworths Egg Policy
 » Red Meat Production Down, but Chicken Up
 » Egg Growers Cracking It
 » Listeria Food Poisoning Traced to Chicken

Belgium

 » Layer Cage Ban in Prospect for Belgium

South Africa

 » MJC Rejects Slaughter of Chickens Claim

India

 » High-Yielding Variety of Chicken, Fish Developed

China

 » International Egg and Poultry Review

Zimbabwe

 » Zimbabwe: Chickens in Binga Hit by Disease

Switzerland

 » More Poultry, Cattle in Switzerland

Trinidad and Tobago

 » Imports Blamed for Fall in T&T Chicken Output

Qatar

 » Qatar Firm to Invest in Egg Production

European Union

 » EFSA Announces Meeting on Broiler, Breeder Welfare



That's all for this week!

Ed.