Iowa Farmer Today

The proposed approval of a new cattle vaccine could turn into a political football, says a Kansas veterinarian.

Cefquinome, an antibiotic manufactured by Intervet, did not receive approval this past fall from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee. However, the FDA is still considering approving the drug for use in cattle.

“FDA cannot refuse the product if the company meets all the requirements set forth for approval, and Intervet has done that,” says Larry Hollis, Extension beef veterinarian at Kansas State University. “The only way approval can be denied is if it’s stopped politically.”

Intervet says Cefquinome is the “active ingredient of various Cobactan formulations, which are licensed in Europe for the treatment of respiratory disease, mastitis, septicemia and foot rot in cattle and/or swine.”

These fourth-generation cephalosporins have been used in Europe for treating veterinary and human infectious diseases. Intervet says there have been no problems. However, several U.S. organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), are opposed to the approval of Cefquinome because of human health concerns.

“The AMA is concerned by data that have accumulated on the use of a third-generation cephalosporin in food animals,” said Michael Maves, CEO and executive vice president of the AMA in a letter mailed to the FDA committee this past fall.

“The only third-generation cephalosporin approved for use in these animals in the United States is ceftiofur, which is widely used in cattle, chickens, and turkeys, in part because there is no withdrawal time. With the unrestricted use of ceftiofur, data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) indicate that ceftriaxone-resistant Salmonella and E. coli have emerged and spread in the United States. Ceftriaxone is commonly used for the treatment of severe infections, and the spread of resistance to this agent is therefore of clinical concern. Given the current outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in this country, this increase in resistance is particularly troubling.”

Hollis says there are other antibiotics on the market that can do the same things as Cefquinome.

“Do we need the product? My contention is we don’t,” he says.

But, Hollis is concerned about possible ramifications if the drug is not approved.

“Do we want to give politicians the chance to block it? If we do, then you can kiss the money all these companies are putting into research goodbye,” he says. “They aren’t going to be willing to take the chance.”

Hollis says if beef is properly prepared, there is little chance of picking up any form of resistant bacteria.

“Intervet is following the letter of the law here,” he says. “I would hate to see this become a political issue.”

Comments »

Kara wrote on Apr 8, 2008 1:58 PM:

" I may only be 15 but i think that this is stupid... why are people just finding out about antibiotics used in cattle? I kno that my family has been using antibiotic in out cattle for years. If you want to see inhuman watch a calf that cant grow cuz he suffers from a cough. I admit that not all antibiotic are good this could be a good one. Im still alive so as long as you dont know or havent died from it then i think youll be ok. As for the more human practices.... What do you want us to do? The things that you think are inhuman are either for safety or just plain work. and when you come up with more human work then that just give me a call. I will be using this article for a project in science class and you should all know where i stand. "

Linda wrote on Jan 2, 2008 4:50 AM:

" My parents were brought up on beef, pork, chicken and turkey that was raised on the farms they lived on.
None of their livestock were ever given antibiotics and not a single member of their family or any other family they knew ever caught E. coli, or any bacteria whatsoever.
They knew how to raise their livestock to avoid such diseases and their livestock were not merely a commodity but served as food to sustain their families. Livestock was considered an asset that was to be given the very best care that was available.
I find it reprehensible that in our 'advanced' world livestock should need to be given drugs to keep them from having diseases that humans might contract. What about the illnesses that endanger human lives from the very drugs used to treat the animals? "

Trebor wrote on Jan 1, 2008 10:27 AM:

" Presently, there is no accurate data on the long term effect on humans for eating animal meet which has been given anti-biotics. It is always about the dollars.

Is it any small wonder why there is an up swing of new mutated disease bacteria and viruses are here to stay.

Let's get back to the old ways of farming and ranching where food was better tasting and had better nutrients instead of just being filling to the stomach. "

Roselee wrote on Dec 26, 2007 7:05 AM:

" Sir! I don ot understand why cows and other animals are given antibiotics! Is it because they are not feed good diets and raised in a poor condition? To save money! I stopped eating beef, and did not know that chickens and other animals are given these medications. And at the cost and health of humans! I do hope many will be alerted to the dangers that this situation applies and we all become vegetarians.I am not yet but very close. Please stop this before you loose your children and loved ones to strains of sickness that will kill them. Sincerely Roselee "

Sue M. wrote on Dec 25, 2007 5:17 PM:

" Would we need this product if cattle were allowed to wander freely in a field of weeds, grass and trees? Would they have foot rot or respiratory disease in the same numbers they do now? The answer is not a new antibiotic, it is better ranching and feeding practices which are more humane. "

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