Animal Health and the Role of Pharmaceuticals

摘要

The use of pharmaceutical products in livestock is undergoing radical change. Globalisation of the pharmaceutical industry has occurred ahead of that of the agricultural livestock industry. Nevertheless, for both industries globalisation is inevitableand will impact on the production, distribution and use ofchemotherapeutics and veterinary biologicals (vaccines). Furthermore, the downstream meat processors and retailers of livestock products have already undergone the mergers into corporations withthe buying power which enables them to influence farm practices to satisfy their consumers' demands; whether justified or not! Tyrannical minorities and a popular press hungry for stories which sell newsprint, make scares associated with drugs and food irresistible targets. Concern is raised about residues of medicines in foodstuffs derived from farm animals and yet the safeguards protecting the consumers against such residues are excellent. Genetically modified medicines have the potential to be saferand more effective than many conventional medicines and yet are treated with suspicion. Antibiotics and organophosphates contribute to animal health and welfare and the risks which they pose may be minimised by appropriate use. The unrealistic politicalexpectation of zero risk, at least in western society, adds further pressures on the producers, regulators and policing authorities driving the genesis of further change.