Fwd. on behalf of Steve Roach:


> On August 17, the Des Moines Register ran a story on the Danish
> growth promoter ban. I'd like to get a LTE in promoting the federal
> legislation that would phase out growth promoters in the US.
>
> I have written a letter and would submit it myself except that my
> organization is quoted in the article. I think it would be better if
> someone else sent the letter. Let me know soon if you are interested
> as the story is already a week old.
>
> I am also looking for a medical professional or someone else with
> expertise in a field related to antimicrobial resistance to submit a
> OPED supporting the bills to the Register.
>
>
> Sample LTE ( Do not submit without letting me know. We don't want
> identical submissions)
>
> The Danes have shown it can be done (Danes Pressure America on Hogs,
> August 17). The World Health Organization, the National Acadamy of
> Sciences' Institute of Medicine, and the American Medical Association
> recommend it.  Why not do it?  We can greatly improve how antibiotics
> are used on our farms. Two bills, S. 1460 and H.R.2932,  have been
> introduced in congress that would phase out the use of medically
> important antibiotics for growth promotion in livestock.  They would
> not affect how antibiotics are used to treat sick animals and only
> apply to drugs that impact resistance in human medicine.  These bills
> have bipartisan support. Wouldn't it be nice if Iowa's
> representatives would support them as well.
>
> Original Register Article
>
> Danes pressure America on hogs
> Nation's ban on growth stimulant increases costs but boosts demand
> for
> Danish pork.
> By PHILIP BRASHER
> Des Moines Register Washington Bureau
> 08/17/2003
>
> Washington, D.C. - Denmark's decision to ban the use of antibiotics
> to make pigs grow faster is sparking a debate about whether U.S.
> farmers should do the same.
>
> The World Health Organization says Denmark's ban substantially
> reduced the use of antimicrobials in animals without significantly
> harming its hog industry. Denmark, which is the Iowa of Europe when
> it comes to raising hogs, is the world's largest exporter of pork.
>
> The United Nations organization is recommending that other countries
> consider similar bans to ensure that human antibiotics remain
> effective. Scientists and government regulators are concerned that
> antibiotics are losing their effectiveness on humans partly because
> of the widespread use of the drugs to speed livestock growth.
>
> "We conclude that under conditions similar to those found in Denmark,
> the use of antimicrobials for the sole purpose of growth promotion
> can be discontinued," the WHO said in a 56-page report issued last
> week. Ending the use of antibiotic growth promoters has increased
> production costs about $1 per hogs, or about 1 percent, but the loss
> will be at least partially offset by increased consumer confidence
> and greater demand for Danish pork, the report said.
>
> "It shows we can drastically reduce antibiotic use on farms without
> severe impacts on the environment, animal health or to costs," said
> Rich Wood, executive director of Food Animals Concerns Trust, a
> consumer advocacy group.
>
> Low dosages of antibiotics both speed the growth of animals and
> prevent young pigs from getting sick after weaning.
>
> An Iowa State University study paid for by pork producers estimated
> that implementing a similar antibiotics ban in the United States
> would cost producers $4.50 per hog. Retail pork prices would rise
> about 2 percent a year as farmers passed through some of their higher
> costs, the study said.
>
> A U.S. ban would make it harder for farmers to produce hogs of
> consistent size, resulting in lower prices, said Dermot Hayes, a co-
> author of the ISU study.
>
> --
> Steven Roach ([log in to unmask])
> Food Animal Concerns Trust
> 2915 Oakland Street
> Ames, IA 50014
> 515-292-3183
>
>

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