Thank you for your researched and well-thought out reply. This is one of those “big-ticket” issues that I have not blogged on, because I don’t feel I’ve done the thorough research on each side to present an unbiased view.

One of the key things pointed out in your reference is a risk-based analysis: Many experts report that bans on routine antibiotic use can result in increased health risks.

One of our other regular readers here sent me a reference about the alarming amount of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in Irish retail meat

[The percentage of samples showing antibiotic resistance amongst Salmonella isolates were as follows: Riampicin (100%); Tetracycline (92·92%); Oxytetracycline (86·26%); Sulphamethoxazole (86·25%) and Streptomycin (80·92%).]

I don’t think that proves the resistance came from feeding. Regardless, this is a caution for RESPONSIBLE use of antimicrobials no matter whether in humans or animals.

http://www.feedstuffsfoodlink.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=124ECF05FDF84451B3E79A337664CA3C&nm=Blog&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=F52F94A54C4C4D108355EB683F04B51C

I know I saw a study somewhere that also did not find more resistant strains of bacteria on conventional farms vs organic ones. I’d have to dig around and find it again.

What troubles me about the proponents of the claim that antibiotic use in animal agriculure is driving bactrial resistance say nothing about the over-prescription of antibiotics in humans or the improper taking of antibiotics in humans (ie, not finishing the full prescription) To me this seems to be the far more logical resivoir as to where resistant strains of bacteria are coming from.

However the simple claim that antibiotics in animal ag causes bacterial resistance seems to have becomes one of many of the commonly beleived urban myths that everyone has heard and now beleives to be true simply because everyone has heard it with no verifiable proof. This in essence is one of the most fundamental problems with agriculture. Most of what the urban public “knows” about agriculture is learned this way.

I really really really wish that our school systems had a mandatory agricultural component to them. So that people are at least educated to the basics instead of learning what they know from urban myth.

“Sara:
typically, these pigs were reared outdoors with a huge enclosure (do not consider it as a pen) and an open hoop structure. they are freely roaming and do forage. I can not say how much of their nutrition comes from foraging though. But definitely they were not and outdoor indoor type…Hope this helps. WG”

Do you have some good references for the antibiotic resistance? This is one of those things that is oft-mentioned, but the only research I’ve seen (and I admit I have not spent hours looking) discounts the antibiotic resistance claims.

Please send me anything you have, as I take the issue seriously. Thanks!

“I saw that in feedstuffs. I think we all intuitively knew that to be true. Trichinosis could become a problem again with new production techniques.

Pigs moved indoors for the sake of efficiency. They grow faster on less feed, get sick less often, and their waste can be managed more appropriately. These are all pretty good reasons.”

Also, the “preventative safeguard” use of antibiotics over the years in our meat supply has led to many resistant strains of these common bacteria - including variants of salmonella bacteria resistant to at least 5 of the 26 most common antibiotics used. (including up to a 92% resistance rate of tetracycline and streptomycin which forms of are used to treat salmonellosis.) In the end, I’m not sure how much safer that usage will be if that trend continues.