MDH-11-8-2015

SUNDAY MORRIS HERALD NEWS November 8, 2015 • $1.50

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ANTIBIOTIC ANSWERS Grundy farmers argue against opposition to the medicine / 3

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COVER STORY

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Grundy County livestock producers talk positive uses of antibiotics

By HEIDI LITCHFIELD hlitchfield@shawmedia.com

MHN

MORRIS – Antibiotic use in livestock has been a hot topic since the announcement Oct. 20 by Subway that it will switch to only meat from animals that have never been treated with antibiotics.

“Beginning in March 2016, Subway customers across the U.S. will able to order meals made with chicken raised without antibiotics. Turkey raised without antibiotics will be introduced in 2016, with a completed transition expected within two to three years, and pork and beef raised without antibiotics will follow within six years after that,” the statement from the sandwich fast food chain read.

Sara Mitchell, a Verona pork producer, has concerns with that message. She doesn’t want consumers to get the wrong idea about antibiotics and their place on the farm.

“Like any parent of a human, when [animals] get sick [farmers] use antibiotics to get them better. That’s why we use them,” she said. “They are important to livestock production.”

She said that like many farmers, she has antibiotics on hand to give her animals when they get sick.

“If it weren’t for antibiotics I wouldn’t have any hogs.

As a whole, our industry is very safe,” she said. “I am emotionally invested as well as financially invested in my animals. If I have a sick pig, I wake up in the middle of the night worried about them, just like others do with their babies.”

Photos by Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com

Sara Mitchell pets one of her piglets Thursday after feeding them at her farm in Verona. BELOW: A pig belonging to Mitchell chows down on a bucket of feed Thursday at her farm in Verona.

Antibiotic use monitored

Mitchell said illness spreads quickly between hogs and they are more susceptible to illness – especially during breeding and after birth.

Mitchell said another as-

The Herald–News • Sunday, November 8, 2015

Farmers respond to debate

pect rarely talked about in the media when these topics gain attention from announcements like Subway’s is that

there are withdrawal dates on antibiotics given to the livestock to reduce the risk of antibiotic residue in meat when

it gets to market. It is illegal to send livestock to market with antibiotic residue, and producers face hefty fines if they do.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture does residue testing and keeps records of those found to be noncompliant.

According to the USDA website’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Residue Quarterly Report dated January to March 2015, under current scheduled sampling programs FSIS tests 12 production classes, which accounts for 96 percent of domestic meat and poultry consumption.

Of the 1,541 samples tested for the quarterly report, the agency found four violations.

During inspector-generated in-plant testing, there were 316 lab verified violations from 49,000 tests, and the report stated several of those tissue samples were from the same carcass.

Mitchell said the withdrawal dates are different for each animal and clearly marked on the antibiotic box.

“Penicillin is given to both humans and animals. It’s important that there is no residue on the meat when it goes to market,” she said.

Use in dairy regulated, too

Meat isn’t the only thing that comes from local livestock. South Wilmington

See ANTIBIOTICS, page 4

Contact Sports Editor Rob Oesterle at roesterle@shawmedia.com

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39 The Herald–News • Sunday, November 8, 2015

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DIFFICULT DEFEAT

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Wilmington’s Bailey Boswell comforts Caleb Gougis after losing Saturday to Byron in Wilmington. Wilmington lost, 42-35, ending its season.

MHN The Herald–News • Sunday, November 8, 2015

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Stay informed Keep informed on Grundy County news by getting the Morris Herald-News, available Sunday through Friday, or by visiting MorrisHerald-News.com.

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Sara Mitchell feeds a young pig Thursday at her farm in Verona. “If it weren’t for antibiotics I wouldn’t have any hogs. As a whole, our industry is very safe,” Mitchell said.

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Farmer: Milk from cattle on antibiotics isn’t used • ANTIBIOTICS

Continued from page 3 dairy farmer Scott Halpin said antibiotics are an important part of the dairy industry, and safeguards are in place when a dairy cow is receiving antibiotics.

“We put leg bands or markings on a cow when they are getting antibiotics so there is no mix-up when it comes to milking them,” Halpin said.

“Milk is tested before it’s put on the truck and every tanker is tested for antibiotics before they dump it.”

He said the main use of antibiotics on his dairy cattle is for mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland in

the breast or udder, typically caused by bacterial infection.

If left untreated, a cow with mastitis will eventually quit producing milk and Halpin said the cow then is put down.

Milk that comes from a cow receiving antibiotics is poured down the drain and isn’t used for any purpose on the Halpin farm.

Halpin said beef cattle that go to market typically haven’t been given antibiotics since they were calves.

“Cattle are pretty tough.

We give antibiotics to calves that get pneumonia, but it’s very rare that a marketable steer will have had any at the time they go to market,” Halpin said.

He said the cattle that get

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antibiotics are kept separate from the other cattle and records are kept to ensure they don’t go to market while in their waiting period.

“People are more focused than ever about the food they eat,” Subway said via an email after the Morris Herald-News requested comment.

“Our customers are telling us they would prefer to eat food without artificial flavors, colors and preservatives and meat from animals that have not been treated with antibiotics. That is why we’ve made the commitments we have.

Accordingly, we have directed our suppliers to work, over a period of time, to raise their animals without antibiotics. We support the highest

standards of animal welfare.

We believe that sick animals should absolutely be treated so they do not suffer.”

The company did not immediately respond to questions about how Subway would ensure the animals they use have never received antibiotics.

Tasha Bunting, manager of the Grundy County Farm Bureau, said the organization feels farmers and ranchers should have all tools available to them to treat and prevent illness.

She also said the bureau supports allowing niche markets, such as organic products, and giving farmers the opportunity to sell in those markets.

ON THE COVER

CORRECTIONS

Sara Mitchell feeds a pen of pigs Thursday at her farm in Verona. Subway recently said it will only use meat from animals that have not been treated with antibiotics. Local farmers say the drugs aren’t a safety concern.

Accuracy is important to the Morris Herald-News and it wants to correct mistakes promptly. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-942-3221 or email news@ morrisherald-news.com.

Photo by Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com