U.S. pork producers are aware of and will be ready for FDA’s new regulations for on-farm antibiotic use in livestock. National Pork Producers Council Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom says the entire industry has taken a proactive approach to the Veterinary Feed Directive set to go into effect at the beginning of 2017.
Wagstrom says producers take their role seriously when it comes to using antibiotics responsibly because they are an important tool for producers.
She says pork producers have already voluntarily eliminating the growth promotion use of antibiotics deemed medically important to human health. They’re being proactive to avoid a government ban.
The National Pork Board has also been involved in preparing pig farmers for the rules and asked them to sign the Pork Checkoff’s “I’ll be ready!” pledge at his year’s World Pork Expo. The board has also funded more than $6 million of antibiotic research since 2000.
