July 6, 2005

 

US antibiotic use in animals up in 2004
 

 

US sales of antibiotics for animal use rose 7.5 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to the Animal Health Institute (AHI), a US national trade association representing animal health product manufacturers.

 

In 2004, 21.7 million pounds of antibiotics were sold for farm and companion animal use, an increase from 20.2 million pounds in 2003. However, antibiotic production had shown a continual down trend since 1999, when 24.4 million pounds were sold.

 

The data was collected from a survey of AHI members.

 

Although antibiotic use has declined, meat production has continued to rise since 1996-from over 75 billion pounds in 1996 to over 85 billion pounds in 2004-indicating greater efficiencies gained by animal producers.

 

AHI president and CEO Alexander S. Matthews said, "Without these important life-saving antibiotic products, death and suffering among livestock, poultry and companion animals would increase."

 

Antibiotic sales were categorised into either for therapeutic purposes or for health maintenance purposes.

 

In 2001, 83 percent of the veterinary antibiotic sales reported were for therapeutic purposes. Since then, the proportion of these product sales has risen each year, to 91 percent in 2002, 92 percent in 2003 and finally, 95 percent in 2004.

 

In 2004, health maintenance accounted for 5 percent of antibiotics used, or 1.175 million pounds.

 

About 64.6 percent are compounds with little or no use in human medicine, such as ionophores or arsenicals. The remaining 35.4 percent are comprised of four compounds, all of which have been or are undergoing risk assessment tests.

 

Said Matthews of these compounds, "To date, those risk assessments have shown miniscule levels of risk that are far outweighed by the benefits to animal and human health."

 

           Source: AHI