Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110276

Elizabeth Wagstrom, DVM, MS, DACVPM, Science and Technology, National Pork Board, 1776 NW 114th Street, Des Moines, IA 50325, 515-223-2633, liz.wagstrom@porkboard.org

The use of antibiotics in animal production has been a topic of concern with public health, animal health, and consumer advocacy groups. While the contribution of antibiotic use in pork production to the problem of resistant bacteria in human health is uncertain, pork producers have the responsibility to deliver safe and wholesome pork to consumers. Since 1989, when the Pork Quality Assurance program was developed there has been an ongoing industry effort to provide producers with the educational materials required to allow them to provide safe product to the marketplace. During 2005, the most comprehensive producer education and awareness effort to date to inform pork producers about the responsible use of antibiotics was initiated. The Take Care – Use Antibiotics Responsibly™ program addresses the use of antibiotics for disease treatment, control and prevention, and for nutritional efficiency. The program is based on a set of principles and guidelines that provide the producer the basis for antibiotic use decision making. The goal of the program is to protect public health while preserving animal health and welfare.

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