We cannot ignore this mounting political pressure against antibiotics on pig farms

摘要

The use of antibiotics in food-producing animals is coming under heavy political and scientific scrutiny, mainly because of increasing bacterial resistance. Pig farming is in the spotlight largely because of the widespread use of 'routine' medication.Paul Pemberton, of specialist pig veterinary practice Garth Partnership, examines the delicate balance between political expediency and animal health. The advent of penicillin to treat wounded soldiers during World War I! revolutionised the treatment ofbacterial disease in both human and veterinary medicine. Since then there has been a continued effort to discover new and improved antibiotics. This effort is driven partly by commercial interests and partly by necessity as bacteria become resistant toexisting pharmaceuticals.