McDonald's antibiotic free

[Sid]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37055471

Wow thats a hell of a commitment. I don't think its possible or will it leadto a two tier marketplace? Treated and untreated?

 

[Cowabunga]

It's for antibiotic use as a preventative or growth promoter. Relevant in many parts of the world but not in Europe as far as I know for beef. Not sure about chicken, but if they import fowl from the Far East it might be relevant.

Trouble is, most of those people who have latched onto this 'cause' haven't got a clue about the subject. That includes many doctors who only know their own narrow area of expertise, yet dole out the pills like smarties.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Majority of my prime beef would never have seen ABs - as, I would guess, most suckler beef.
If they want to offer a premium for it that's fine by me.
Perhaps more likely to be used as a stick to beat down that which didn't qualify though?

 

[Sid]

Well 100% of european beef would qualify then?

 

[Cowabunga]

Majority of my prime beef would never have seen ABs - as, I would guess, most suckler beef.
If they want to offer a premium for it that's fine by me.
Perhaps more likely to be used as a stick to beat down that which didn't qualify though?

That's true for the UK but not for many regions where antibiotics might be used as a growth promoter or in feed to prevent gastric infections, although the latter is more likely in chicken and pigs in some countries.
Where do McD and KFC source their chicken?

 

[Cowabunga]

Well 100% of european beef would qualify then?

That's right.

 

[Sid]

That's right.

Same we're soon not to be in europe under those rules. Maybe antibiotics will be allowed to be used in UK beef production again?

 

[Cowmangav]

Apparantly in China and many countries you can buy any antibiotics you want, and self medicate. Im talking about human medicine , not even agriculture, so its a question of priorities.

 

[Cowabunga]

Same we're soon not to be in europe under those rules. Maybe antibiotics will be allowed to be used in UK beef production again?

Not if you want to sell into Europe.
In the USA not only do they feed antibiotics [Romensin] but also inject cows and beef with hormones to increase production efficiency. None of which is allowed or practiced in the EU as far as I know.
Dylan is another antibiotic used as a growth promoter for some species in some regions I believe. No idea of the specifics of Tylan use or how widespread its use geographically.

Disclaimer…… my information is from memory and may be out date.

 

[Sid]

Not if you want to sell into Europe.
In the USA not only do they feed antibiotics [Romensin] but also inject cows and beef with hormones to increase production efficiency. None of which is allowed or practiced in the EU as far as I know.

Disclaimer…… my information is from memory and may be out date.

We've just had the SRM ban lifted. So we can export to the states....we send 100 tonnes of organic/scotch/native breed beef over we get back 100,000 tons of cheapo burger beef. Free trade here we come.

 

[Cowabunga]

We've just had the SRM ban lifted. So we can export to the states....we send 100 tonnes of organic/scotch/native breed beef over we get back 100,000 tons of cheapo burger beef. Free trade here we come.

Yep, we are likely to be buried in cheap food from regions with far lower production costs, regulations and standards.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Yep, we are likely to be buried in cheap food from regions with far lower production costs, regulations and standards.

Not necessarily if pound stays low.

I suspect there's calf units using ab's as preventative in GB and rest of Europe?

 

[Cowabunga]

Not necessarily I'd pound stays low.

I suspect there's calf units using ab's as preventative in GB and rest of Europe?

Oh do please speculate and wreck the industry. You will surely be awarded in the next honour's list.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Oh do please speculate and wreck the industry. You will surely be awarded in the next honour's list.

Nothing illegal about doing so atm is there? Logic would be to cover stressed calves entering the system.
Plenty still use preventative ab's in the lambing shed and in poultry as suggested.

Not saying it's good practice and I know many are working away from it .

 

[caveman]

Known one or two in the near past who were always jabbing anything that so much as sneezed and dealt with, for profit, cheap antibiotics and medicines from the ROI.
Makes one wonder on the medication status of ROI stock.
Are things still so loosely available over there?
Leopards dont change their spots.

 

[betweenthelines]

That's a BBC website claiming that in animals, most ABs are used for prevention rather than treatment. Have they got any evidence to support this?

personally, I think people should be more concerned about some of the intensive poultry rearing methods used throughout the world.

But oven ready birds @ £3--people think that's great1

 

[neilo]

Not if you want to sell into Europe.
In the USA not only do they feed antibiotics [Romensin] but also inject cows and beef with hormones to increase production efficiency. None of which is allowed or practiced in the EU as far as I know.
Dylan is another antibiotic used as a growth promoter for some species in some regions I believe. No idea of the specifics of Tylan use or how widespread its use geographically.

Disclaimer…… my information is from memory and may be out date.

Memory might be hazy, as we last used it many moons ago (obviously), but I'm pretty sure Monensin isn't an antibiotic.

 

[Cowabunga]

Memory might be hazy, as we last used it many moons ago (obviously), but I'm pretty sure Monensin isn't an antibiotic.

Well I'm pretty sure it is. Haven't thought about it in many decades though, so I'm not putting money on it.

Edit… putting 'monensin' in my search bar comes up with this quote from Wikipedia. I have not visited the actual web site though, so that's all I know and took all of three seconds to find……..
"Monensin is a polyether antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces cinnamonensis. It is widely used in ruminant animal feeds."

 

[neilo]

Well I'm pretty sure it is. Haven't thought about it in many decades though, so I'm not putting money on it.

Edit… putting 'monensin' in my search bar comes up with this quote from Wikipedia. I have not visited the actual web site though, so that's all I know and took all of three seconds to find……..
"Monensin is a polyether antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces cinnamonensis. It is widely used in ruminant animal feeds."

I have a recollection of it being a 'microbial suppressant' rather than an antibiotic, and that it led to an increase in proprionic acid production (hence increasing milk production at the expense of BF, at the time), but increased growth in beef & lambs. I remember it was great for cocci in lambs, as it suppressed the challenge without wiping it out, letting lambs develop a natural immunity.

 

[Hampton]

Apparantly in China and many countries you can buy any antibiotics you want, and self medicate. Im talking about human medicine , not even agriculture, so its a question of priorities.

You can do that in parts of Europe too. Lance Armstrong and us postal bought EPO over the counter in switzerland