021003 Antibiotic Use in Livestock Fell in 2001October 1, 2002Washington - Antibiotic use in US farm livestock last year declined for the third year in a row, according to an industry survey released Monday, reflecting a trend among food companies to stop using certain drugs in view of consumer concerns. The Animal Health Institute, a trade group representing companies that sell medicines for farm animals, said its members sold 21.8 million pounds of antibiotics in 2001. That compares to 23.7 million pounds in 2000 and 24 million in 1999. McDonald's, Wendy's, Tyson Foods and Perdue Inc. promised earlier this year that their poultry products would be free of certain antibiotics. Critics believe routinely feeding powerful antibiotics to livestock, along with the overuse of the drugs in humans, is enabling bacteria to develop a resistance to some medicines. As a result, some infections that were once easily controlled by antibiotics are becoming increasingly difficult to contain. The animal health trade group did not offer an explanation for the decline in drug use in 2000. "Veterinarians and livestock and poultry producers are constantly evaluating their use of antibiotics as part of the judicious use of these products," Alexander Mathews, the trade group's president, said in a statement. More than 80% of antibiotics are used to prevent contagious diseases in food animals, which are often raised in confined spaces. Demand for the majority of antibiotics declined in 2001, according to the survey. But purchases of tetracycline and penicillin increased. Companies sold 7.14 million pounds of tetracycline in 2001, up from 6.69 million pounds the previous year, the survey said. Bills have been introduced in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives that would curb the sale of animal antibiotics also used by humans.
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