Feed originating from ethanol production waste contains antibiotics

Ethanol production requires the use of antibiotics to prevent bacteria outbreaks that lead to decreased yield. Pencillin and erythromycin are commonly used to ensure levels of bacteria are kept low.

However ‘distillers grains’ are a byproduct of ethanol production and are sold as livestock feed due to their high nutritional value despite the high amount of antibiotics they are exposed to. This leads to higher levels of antimicrobial resistance, especially in regard to one of the most widely used antibiotics: pencillin.

This is a critical issue as plans to cut antimicrobial resistance are brought to the forefront of the veterinary community through the One Health Iniatiative.

Visit Allaboutfeed for the full story.

BVA deeply concerned over EU resolution to ban prophylactic use of antibiotics in livestock

The EU resolution is aimed at preventing antibiotic resistance but the BVA is concerned measures will impact on the welfare and wellbeing of herds.

Carl Padgett, President of the BVA commented: ‘Vets should be able to use their clinical and professional judgement [...]

In a practical sense a complete ban on the prophylactic use of antimicrobials puts the vets in a very difficult position and the result could compromise animal health and welfare.’

Further details on the resolution can be found at The European Parliament.

To what extent are counterfeit drugs boosting antibiotic resistance in pets? And how many of these drugs are a) identifiable and b) bought knowingly?

It seems suppliers aren’t necessarily always as transparent as vets would hope. In this context counterfeit drugs aren’t being sought out as a means to cut costs, nor are they necessarily fake or defective: however they are untraceable and may contain either under or overdoses of certain drugs.

Always check your supplier and where possible try to stick to suppliers you have a reliable history with.

Click here to read the full article by Maryn McKenna for Wired.com.

German scientists have identified a link between prevalance of a deadly strain of salmonella, monophasic salmonella typhimurium, and pigs. Overuse of antibiotics in feed is thought to be a major factor in the strain’s resistance. The multiresistant superbug is transmissable to humans through contact and through consumption. For the full report and measures being taken to contain the spread, please read more.

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