Farmers and ranchers in Wyoming and around the country are going to have to make some changes when it comes to treating animals with antibiotics.
The F-D-A is banning some off-label uses of the class of medications known as Cephalosporins. The ban stems from concerns that overuse in animals is creating drug-resistant bacteria, that would in turn eventually end up affecting humans.
David Wallinga with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy applauds the decision.
Wallinga says about 54,000 pounds of Cephalosporins were used in producing farm animals in the U-S in 2010. But he calls that just a “drop in the bucket” compared to the widespread use of other antibiotics in agriculture, and he thinks more needs to be done to end routine use of antibiotics.
Those who oppose the ban say there are already few options for effective animal antibiotics, and this takes away another one of them. The ban goes into effect on April 5th.