News that the US Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to help phase out the use of certain antimicrobial drugs as growth promoters in livestock means there is now a timeframe in place for livestock producers to adjust production practices, according to Kansas State University veterinarian, Mike Apley. The guidelines apply to drugs considered ‘medically important’, which the FDA describes as being important for treating human diseases. Cattle production will be less affected than swine because cattle growth promoters are typically ionophores, which are not considered medically important, said Apley, a professor of clinical sciences in K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Read More

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