Responsible Antimicrobial Usage in Beef Cattle Production

Using Antimicrobials Responsibly:

• Have an accurate diagnosis before using antimicrobials o For example, not all lameness is footrot (a bacterial infection). o Viruses are not susceptible to antibiotics. o Antimicrobials that specifically target the pathogen should be selected over broader-spectrum agents and local therapy should be selected over systemic therapy when appropriate. o Have a conversation with your veterinarian to help determine whether the health benefit of treatment from a particular antimicrobial drug outweighs the potential risk and burden on resistance

▪ DON’T USE A SHOTGUN TO KILL A FLY!

• Choose the right product to treat the condition .

• Follow veterinary and/or label instructions o Use the proper route of delivery (oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous) o Deliver the drug in the proper dose o Administer the drug for the proper number of days o If the product label is no longer available, visit the Compendium of Veterinary Products to search for it.

▪ Treatment should not be stopped earlier than veterinary and/or label instructions indicate as reduced symptoms may be confused with a cure.

▪ Provided veterinary and/or label instructions are followed, antimicrobials should be used for the shortest time period required to reliably achieve a cure. This minimizes exposure of other bacterial populations to the antimicrobial.

Adapted from https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/antibiotic -resistance/