[Pharmwaste] Pharmaceuticals, beef research at odds with critics
Tenace, Laurie
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
Tue, 21 Jun 2005 16:03:42 -0400
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http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/11942911.htm
=20
Pharmaceuticals, beef research at odds with critics
=20
DEVONA WALKER
=20
Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa - Industry executives worked to deliver a solid message =
on
Monday concerning the benefits of pharmaceutical use in the beef =
industry,
but skeptics said that research is a bit hard to swallow.
Thomas Elam, an agriculture economist, and Rodney L. Preston, a Texas =
Tech
University professor, were hired by the Growth Enhancement Technology
Information Team, a group of industry executives, to analyze =
pharmaceutical
technology and its impact on the beef industry. They released some of =
their
findings on Monday in Des Moines.
The research indicated an 82 percent increase in efficiencies in the =
beef
industry in the last 50 years.
Improvements made in pharmaceuticals, genetics, nutrition, grain yields =
and
field costs have reduced consumer costs and made for leaner cuts, =
according
to the research. It said beef production has doubled in the last 50 =
years in
the nation, but the amount of acres used has remained constant.
"The ultimate impact of agriculture on the environment is how much land =
we
need to feed our 6.5 billion people," Elam said. "If we were employing
technologies of 50 years ago, we would be farming more fragile lands, we
would be irrigating more deserts."
David Wallinga, with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, =
said the
use of pharmaceuticals in the beef industry is a huge concern, and he =
does
not believe paid research can be objective.
"Of course it isn't objective," he said. "We've seen quite conclusively =
that
who funds the study has a significant outcome on the conclusion."
The most common concern is the indirect effect of antibiotics on surface
water. Another bone of contention between the beef industry and =
environmental
community involves the development of antibiotic-resistance in farm =
animals
and possibly humans.
Preston said there is no research-substantiated basis for those fears.
"What has not happened in 50 years of antibiotic use in animals and man =
seems
unlikely to happen," he said.
Both therapeutic and non-therapeutic regimens of antibiotics in beef =
cattle
have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the World Health
Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and the EU Scientific =
Work
Group.
Elam and Preston said though research was funded by the industry team, =
their
study was independent, objective and based on facts.
"We have spent our careers in this industry, and we certainly have a =
point of
view, and they were aware of that," Elam said. "We're no Sierra Club."
Charles Johnson, a natural beef producer from South Dakota, said he uses
antibiotics on his 150 head only if there is illness. He does not use
hormones or growth implants.
"I totally think they're unnecessary, and I think as a farming community =
and
a consuming public we'd be a lot better off without them," Johnson said.
Dan Loy, professor of animal science at Iowa State University, advises
producers on the nutritional impact of antibiotics on beef.
He said the majority of antibiotic use he sees is for therapeutic =
purposes.
Frequently a beef producer will feed a cow antibiotics for a period of =
time
that is believed to be particularly stressful on the animal. For =
instance,
antibiotics are often used when weaning a calf from its mother's milk.
There has generally been a reverse trend in the routine use of
non-therapeutic antibiotics, but Loy said more research is needed.
"This is a very controversial issues, and you will find those people who
believe very strongly about it on both sides," he said. "I personally =
feel
the truth lies somewhere in the middle."
=20
=20
Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
=20
view our mercury web pages at:=20
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
=20
=20
=20
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:3.0pt'><b><font size=3D4 =
color=3D"#660000"
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:#660000;font-weight:bold'><a
href=3D"http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/11942911.htm">h=
ttp://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/11942911.htm</a></span><=
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<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:3.0pt'><b><font size=3D4 =
color=3D"#660000"
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:#660000;font-weight:bold'> </span></=
font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:3.0pt'><b><font size=3D4 =
color=3D"#660000"
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:#660000;font-weight:bold'>Pharmaceuticals=
,
beef research at odds with critics</span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'><img
border=3D0 width=3D1 height=3D5 =
src=3D"cid:image001.gif@01C5767A.CC0AE180"><br>
</span></font><b><font size=3D1 color=3D"#666666"><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;
color:#666666;font-weight:bold'>DEVONA WALKER</span></font></b><font =
size=3D1><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'><br>
<img border=3D0 width=3D1 height=3D1 =
src=3D"cid:image002.gif@01C5767A.CC0AE180"><br>
</span></font><b><font size=3D1 color=3D"#666666"><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;
color:#666666;font-weight:bold'>Associated Press</span></font></b><font =
size=3D1><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'><br>
<img border=3D0 width=3D1 height=3D1 =
src=3D"cid:image002.gif@01C5767A.CC0AE180"></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><b><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold'>DES MOINES, Iowa - =
</span></font></b><font
size=3D1><span style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Industry executives worked to =
deliver a
solid message on Monday concerning the benefits of pharmaceutical use in =
the
beef industry, but skeptics said that research is a bit hard to =
swallow.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Thomas Elam, an agriculture economist, and =
Rodney L.
Preston, a Texas Tech University professor, were hired by the Growth
Enhancement Technology Information Team, a group of industry executives, =
to
analyze pharmaceutical technology and its impact on the beef industry. =
They
released some of their findings on Monday in Des =
Moines.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>The research indicated an 82 percent increase =
in
efficiencies in the beef industry in the last 50 =
years.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Improvements made in pharmaceuticals, =
genetics,
nutrition, grain yields and field costs have reduced consumer costs and =
made
for leaner cuts, according to the research. It said beef production has =
doubled
in the last 50 years in the nation, but the amount of acres used has =
remained
constant.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"The ultimate impact of agriculture on =
the
environment is how much land we need to feed our 6.5 billion =
people," Elam said. "If we were employing technologies of 50 =
years ago, we would be farming
more fragile lands, we would be irrigating more =
deserts."</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>David Wallinga, with the Institute for =
Agriculture and
Trade Policy, said the use of pharmaceuticals in the beef industry is a =
huge
concern, and he does not believe paid research can be =
objective.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"Of course it isn't objective," he =
said.
"We've seen quite conclusively that who funds the study has a =
significant
outcome on the conclusion."</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>The most common concern is the indirect effect =
of
antibiotics on surface water. Another bone of contention between the =
beef
industry and environmental community involves the development of
antibiotic-resistance in farm animals and possibly =
humans.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Preston</span></font><font size=3D1><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'> said there is no research-substantiated basis =
for
those fears.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"What has not happened in 50 years of =
antibiotic
use in animals and man seems unlikely to happen," he =
said.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Both therapeutic and non-therapeutic regimens =
of
antibiotics in beef cattle have been approved by the Food and Drug =
Administration,
the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and the =
EU
Scientific Work Group.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Elam</span></font><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt'> and Preston said though research was funded by the industry =
team, their
study was independent, objective and based on facts.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"We have spent our careers in this =
industry, and
we certainly have a point of view, and they were aware of that," =
Elam said. "We're no Sierra Club."</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Charles Johnson, a natural beef producer from =
South Dakota, said he uses antibiotics on his 150 head only if there is =
illness. He does
not use hormones or growth implants.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"I totally think they're unnecessary, and =
I think
as a farming community and a consuming public we'd be a lot better off =
without
them," Johnson said.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>Dan Loy, professor of animal science at Iowa =
State University, advises producers on the nutritional impact of =
antibiotics on beef.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>He said the majority of antibiotic use he sees =
is for
therapeutic purposes. Frequently a beef producer will feed a cow =
antibiotics
for a period of time that is believed to be particularly stressful on =
the
animal. For instance, antibiotics are often used when weaning a calf =
from its
mother's milk.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>There has generally been a reverse trend in =
the routine
use of non-therapeutic antibiotics, but Loy said more research is =
needed.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:13.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt'>"This is a very controversial issues, and =
you will
find those people who believe very strongly about it on both =
sides," he
said. "I personally feel the truth lies somewhere in the =
middle."</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Laurie
J. Tenace</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Environmental
Specialist</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Florida
Department of Environmental Protection</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>2600</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> Blair Stone Road, =
MS</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> 4555</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Tallahassee</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>, Florida =
32399-2400</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>PH:
(850) 245-8759</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>FAX:
(850) 245-8811</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"mailto:Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us">Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.=
us</a></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>view
our mercury web pages at: </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm">=
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm</a></span=
></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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