Forum to Focus on Antibiotic Use in Food Animal Production

The use of antibiotics in the production of food animals elicits polarizing opinions across the media today as consumers become more aware and interested in the way their food is produced. While livestock producers have realized that significant animal illness can be avoided by the use of antibiotics, consumers are being told that any use of antibiotics leads to a lower effectiveness of antibiotics in humans.

Although there have been several debates and discussions on this issue, the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is planning a national forum in which experts in animal agriculture, researchers in the area of livestock health and experts in human health will come together to have a dialogue about the use of antibiotics in the sustainable production of food.

Participants in the forum will have the opportunity to hear from the research leaders and experts and join in the dialogue.

The forum, entitled "Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose," is scheduled to be held at the Hotel InterContinental O'Hare in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 26-27. Registration is open to anyone interested in this issue. The registration fee is $295 with discounts for early registration and for NIAA members.

For more information, go to www.animalagriculture.org.