REDUCING ANTIMICROBIAL USE: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR MEETING CONSUMER DEMANDS WHILE MAINTAINING HEALTHY ANIMALS AND SAFE FOODS –CASE STUDIES IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES

Ann Wells, National Center for Appropriate Technology

The USDA’s National Organic Program, which took effect October 21, 2002 prohibits the use of antibiotics in order to sell dairy products as organic. The market is responding to the production of organic meat and dairy products, which are produced without antibiotics, by growing at a rate of 20% annually.

Organic agriculture has as its philosophy good farming practices without using synthetic chemicals. To be able to successfully raise cattle and produce milk and dairy products without the use of antibiotics, organic farmers must manage their farming system well, monitoring their whole farm from the soil up.

The goal of organic livestock production is to manage the farming system so that animals stay healthy. Farmers must find ways of keeping animals healthy so there is no need for the use of antibiotics. Managing the system requires a holistic approach, by looking at the animals and their environment together. There are several things, including good grazing management, stress identification and reduction and alternative medical modalities that help organic dairy farmers succeed without the use of antibiotics.

Controlled grazing is the preferred way for animals to get the nutrients necessary to keep them healthy. The challenge in controlled grazing is to provide a high availability of quality forage to animals at all times. The resulting high nutritional status helps prevent many diseases that might necessitate the need for antibiotics. Supplemental feedstuffs, raised organically, enhance the nutritional status of the cows by providing nutrients that are raised in an ecological manner. Controlled grazing also satisfies the natural behavior of the cattle, thus reducing stress. It allows farmers to meet the requirement of giving animals access to pasture.

Beginning organic farmers are concerned about what to use if animals get sick, as there are few places they can turn for help. Soon they realize that prevention is where they need to focus. Attention to nutrition, especially through controlled grazing, along with reduction of stress provides the best preventative strategies.

When animals do get sick, natural substances may be used. Alternative medical modalities include herbs, both Western and Chinese, homeopathy and acupuncture. These modalities require the user to observe the animal within its environment to determine the best remedy. These are gentle remedies, which act more slowly to bring the animal’s system back into equilibrium.

Because organic dairies are not allowed to use antibiotics, they are the perfect venue for learning how to manage the farming system so animals stay healthier and when they do get sick finding out what can be used instead of antibiotics. We have gotten complacent with the ease of using antibiotics and have lost our ability to determine if and when we can actually get by without them. As organic dairy producers become more skilled in the management of their farms, they see the health of the whole system improve. Observing organic dairy farms gives the opportunity to see how the farming system changes and how the health of the animals improves.

Ann Wells, DVM, National Center for Appropriate Technology, PO Box 3657, Fayetteville AR, (479) 442-9824, (479) 442-9842, annw@ncat.org.