The Rural Voice, 1999-03, Page 37CM/O)
Defenders of agricultural use of
antibiotics claim consumers will have
to pay more for their food if use of
antibiotics was banned but Blackwell
doubts consumers would notice much
difference. A 1998 study by the
National Research Council in the
U.S. estimated the cost to consumers
from a complete ban on the low level
feeding of antibiotics in chicken,
turkey, beef and pork would amount
to $4.85 per person per year. "Not a
whole lot of consumers would notice
at the end of the month that it cost 50
cents extra to buy their food," he
predicted.
The impact on producers would
be more severe. Some farmers
might see a jump in costs of $4
to $5 per pig because of the Toss of
antibiotics. Many, however would
adjust. He estimated that on average
it could cost producers $2-$4 a pig.
What happens if farmers lose the
use of low -levels of antibiotics in
feeds? Blackwell says that Canada
will follow the U.S. and if the U.S.
bans the use, Canada will too. We'II
be on a level playing field.
Experience in Europe is that there
will be a large number of post -
weaning diseases in younger pigs,
but everybody will be in the same
boat so it will even out.
As for his suggestion that many
producers can withdraw .drugs from
their finishing rations, Blackwell
says he can't guarantee his
contention that it will save about as
much as it costs. There could be two
or three extra days needed to gain
market weight as well as a small feed
cost increase.
"You could be giving up dollars
per pig without realizing it," he says.
"Of course the other side of the
argument also holds. Did you begin
using a feed additive when you were
not able to measure its cost
effectiveness?"
The major source of problems
with antibiotic-resistant bacteria
remains misuse by human beings,
Blackwell says. It is unlikely that
agriculture is responsible for even
two per cent of the problem with
antibiotics but it will. likely be the
focus of greater and greater scrutiny
and producers must clean up their
act.
"This could be a good time to see
if you really need them."0
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