Anti-biotics in Agriculture

Today we had a sick calf. This was to be expected as the weather has changed from warm and sunny to cold and wet. Dad went out this morning and found the calf, sick and very close to death. He called our vet and got a prescription for a powerful anti-biotic. He then gave the anti-biotic at the prescribed dose along with some vitamins.

I am not sure how the calf is doing, as of tonight it was still alive but barely. I am sure without the benefit of the powerful anti-biotic he would not be alive. This anti-biotic is very important to us as ranchers to help protect the health of our baby calves. As a rancher we feel the responsibility to our cattle to do everything in our power to take care of them.

Recently CBS news and Katie Couric did an expose` on the use of anti-biotics in agriculture and she came to the conclusion that our use of them aid in the resistance of viruses to them in humans. First of all, that conclusion is false. There is no evidence what-so-ever that this is the case. However, there are those who would take away these powerful tools from the farmers and ranchers who raise your food.

The use of anti-biotics are critical to all farmers and ranchers who use them and the animals who need them. Just as in our case this morning, they are used under the guidance of a veterinarian and doses and withdrawal dates are closely monitored. You see these powerful tools are only powerful tools because they are only used when absolutely needed, for the length of time needed and in the dose recommended. The use of anti-biotics in livestock insure that many do not suffer needlessly from curable ailments. The loss of an animal is very painful to any of us who make a living raising them. At the same time, we are also aware that we are raising food for not only consumers but for our own family, and we would never do anything to jeopardize their health.

The bottom line is that we absolutely must have anti-biotics to raise the safe, healthy, nutritious food that we all consume while insuring the health and well-being of the animals that provide us with that food. Tomorrow morning we will check on our calf and I hope that it's health will be improving. I also hope that the powerful medicine we used will be available for other animals on my ranch in the future.

Lambs, Calves and Anti-biotics

The next couple of months are "crunch" time on our ranch. Over that period we will be lambing and calving. This period of time is one of my favorite, I love working with the animals and seeing the newborn lambs and calves. However, this is also one of the most stressful, physically draining periods for all of us on the ranch and it would be even more stressful without the advances in modern veterinary medicine.

I have stated many times that I do not have my own doctor programmed into my cell phone but I do have the numbers of two veterinarians (both their clinics and cell phones). Without the guidance of these two skilled professionals and the modern advances in medicine this time of the year would not be so eagerly anticipated.

Recently I have heard that there is a push to reduce (or even eliminate) the anti-biotics we have to treat our livestock. Misinformation and outright lies have been spread by groups such as HSUS , PETA and various sub-groups about the use of anti-biotics in agriculture and their ties to anti-biotic resistant bugs in humans. Let me just say that, without a doubt, limiting the anti-biotics we have to use on our animals would lead to much more suffering by those very animals.

Each time I have a lamb or a calf with a respiratory ailment I am very thankful to be able to treat it with the most advanced modern anti-biotic available. Let me also assure you that this treatment is done under the advisement of my veterinarian. We use only the prescribed amount and only for the prescribed time. We do not want to over-use our most effective treatments.

So what is my message? The anti-biotics we use on our farms and ranches have been tested and reviewed by a myriad of government regulators. We utilize highly educated, trained veterinarians and only administer them in the dose needed. All withdrawal times are followed. This all means that the meat you get is completely safe and does not contribute, at all, to anti-biotic resistant illness in humans. The men and women in agriculture work hard day and night to insure a safe, abundant, ethically grown food supply and they can be trusted.