Reverse new federal ruling banning over the counter livestock antibiotics for farmers
Reverse new federal ruling banning over the counter livestock antibiotics for farmers
The Issue
The recent federal ruling that bans over the counter livestock antibiotics for farmers is a major setback for the agricultural industry. This decision will have negative consequences on animal health and food safety and the farmers.
According to the National Pork Producers Council, antibiotics are an essential tool in maintaining animal health and welfare. Without access to these medications, farmers will struggle to keep their livestock healthy and free from disease. This can lead to increased mortality rates among animals, which would be devastating for farmers who rely on their livestock as a source of income.
Furthermore, this ruling could also have serious implications for food safety. Antibiotics are used in livestock farming to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli. Without access to these medications, there is a higher risk of these pathogens spreading through our food supply chain.
This new policy will also be crippling to countless small farms and homesteaders. There are many instances where farmers need antibiotics with no need to visit a vet to treat their livestock such as pink eye, birthing seasons, cold season where animals are at a risk of pneumonia and many more. Forcing the hand of farmers to utilize vets for easily diagnosed issues at the farm without veterinary intervention, will cause issues such as large financial burden, issues finding vets within local areas or even vets available in a timely manner before it's to late for the livestock. Almost all farmers keep antibiotics on hand for when the time calls for it and not having any without a vet prescribing it will cause many issues.
We urge policymakers to reverse this ruling and allow farmers continued access to over-the-counter antibiotics for their livestock. We believe that this decision will help ensure both animal welfare and public health.
Sources:
- National Pork Producers Council: https://www.nppc.org/antibiotics/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
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The Issue
The recent federal ruling that bans over the counter livestock antibiotics for farmers is a major setback for the agricultural industry. This decision will have negative consequences on animal health and food safety and the farmers.
According to the National Pork Producers Council, antibiotics are an essential tool in maintaining animal health and welfare. Without access to these medications, farmers will struggle to keep their livestock healthy and free from disease. This can lead to increased mortality rates among animals, which would be devastating for farmers who rely on their livestock as a source of income.
Furthermore, this ruling could also have serious implications for food safety. Antibiotics are used in livestock farming to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli. Without access to these medications, there is a higher risk of these pathogens spreading through our food supply chain.
This new policy will also be crippling to countless small farms and homesteaders. There are many instances where farmers need antibiotics with no need to visit a vet to treat their livestock such as pink eye, birthing seasons, cold season where animals are at a risk of pneumonia and many more. Forcing the hand of farmers to utilize vets for easily diagnosed issues at the farm without veterinary intervention, will cause issues such as large financial burden, issues finding vets within local areas or even vets available in a timely manner before it's to late for the livestock. Almost all farmers keep antibiotics on hand for when the time calls for it and not having any without a vet prescribing it will cause many issues.
We urge policymakers to reverse this ruling and allow farmers continued access to over-the-counter antibiotics for their livestock. We believe that this decision will help ensure both animal welfare and public health.
Sources:
- National Pork Producers Council: https://www.nppc.org/antibiotics/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
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The Decision Makers
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Petition created on May 11, 2023