February 15, 2021

AVMA leaders advocate against withholding any necessary medications from livestock, including on organic and antimicrobial-free farms.

Those medications include drugs used to manage pain or infections.

A policy enacted Jan. 9 by the AVMA House of Delegates states that good animal welfare and veterinary care include administering necessary medical treatments.

“Veterinarians should uphold the health and wellbeing of their patients as their primary responsibility over animal care policies, production practices, marketing programs or any other competing interests that otherwise would direct the withholding of necessary medical therapy for relief from pain and disease,” the policy states.

The policy applies to all animals, but a statement published along with the resolution indicates the policy addresses concerns raised in livestock production. Food animal veterinarians needed a clear statement from the AVMA in support of judicious use of antimicrobials and other medications, according to the statement.

Before the House votes on issues, delegates divide into groups—known as reference committees—to discuss the proposals and recommend revisions.

In one reference committee meeting, Dr. K. Fred Gingrich II, executive director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, said the House’s caucus of food animal veterinarians supports the policy statement. He also noted the AABP has a similar position statement specific to antimicrobial administration, and he sees benefits to an AVMA statement that also applies to pain management.

Some dairy owners, for example, express reluctance to administering any pain management during calf dehorning because the most common option, meloxicam, is prohibited in organic production, Dr. Gingrich said. He told a producer trade group that the veterinarian of record should make those decisions, but he thinks it would be helpful to be able to also refer that group to the AVMA policy statement that all animals should receive pain relief.

“I think it’s most unfortunate if an animal is withheld necessary pain medication or antibiotics because they’re in a certain production marketing program,” Dr. Gingrich said. “And so I think this is very timely and very much advocating for the welfare of our food animal patients.”

In March 2018, AABP leaders published a position statement that cattle welfare should be the priority consideration in any marketing system, and even cattle in antimicrobial-free production systems should receive antimicrobials when the drugs are needed to treat disease. Owners of antimicrobial-free herds should create backup plans to sell beef and dairy products when those drugs become necessary, it states.