GUELPH – The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) welcomes the investment of up to $294,314 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership) to conduct new research on the “National Surveillance of Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ontario Feedlot Cattle”. The BFO and the Canadian feedlot sector are committed to antimicrobial stewardship. It is hoped that the results from this study will strengthen confidence in Canada’s beef production standards and promote the safety of Canadian beef among the Canadian public, Canadian consumers and international customers.
“Canadian beef farmers work hard to ensure Canadians have the safest and highest quality product on their plates, made from sustainably raised cows.” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
“Ontario farmers are committed to the health and safety of their animals on the farm,” said Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Our government is proud to be part of a national initiative that will provide the key information they need to continue caring for their livestock in the best way possible.”
“Collecting antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data from feedlots located in Ontario and other major fed cattle producing provinces, will fill a current gap in our national surveillance program,” said BFO president, Joe Hill.
“There is a growing expectation that countries quantify antimicrobial use in food animal production. Monitoring and measuring antimicrobial use and resistance helps demonstrate responsible use, and only with responsible use can these products continue to be employed for food animal production.”
To address the growing concern around AMR and AMU Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance monitors trends in AMU and AMR in selected bacterial organisms for human, animal and food sources.
The goal is to capture AMU in cattle on feedlot operations, and to detect changing trends in AMU and AMR over time. This project is led by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s “Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance” and will complement corresponding research being conducted in Alberta and Saskatchewan feedlots.
