Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide concern since bacteria or viruses are evolving to be immune to antibiotic treatments. Using antibiotics needs to be significantly reduced, with livestock animals having more restricted access to them. In Canada, they can no longer be used for growth promotion and a veterinary prescription is needed to use them on livestock. The food animal sector in Canada is the largest user of antibiotics; swine and cattle administer them the most. They should be used as little as possible, but also as much as necessary to protect the animal’s welfare. Withdrawal needs to be completed before going to market and drug options for diseases and infections should be documented to help choose the better treatment option.
Just Say No to Drug Resistance (full article)
