Over-the-counter farm antibiotics cease Dec. 1

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

Farmers are shaking their heads about new Health Canada antibiotic regulations that start Dec. 1.
Farmers will need a prescription to obtain medically important antibiotics for their livestock and can only obtain them from a vet clinic or licensed pharmacist.
Wheatland County councillor and rancher Jason Wilson said he attended the provincial Agricultural Service Board conference this fall and said farmers and ranchers in attendance were not sure about the policy.
“I don’t know how everybody took it,” said Wilson. “I think nobody is really happy with the way they are going.”
Many farmers and ranchers will look at this as a cash cow for vet services and a nuisance for producers, but proponents say international markets are already responding to global pressure for less antibiotic use.
The plan affects treatment for all types of farm animals, including beef, dairy, hogs, sheep, horses, fish and even bees.
Some ranchers in remote locations don’t have ready access to veterinary clinics. This April, an article in the Edmonton Journal by Jouris Graney said the Alberta government had pulled funding for veterinary students, risking shortages of veterinarians in the future. The article stated that as of April there were about 80 vacant veterinary positions in Alberta and that about 1,100 more veterinarians will be needed by 2023. So, the question arises as to what farmers and ranchers will do if they cannot get into a vet service due to backlogged appointments.
The new antibiotic policy is relying on good relationships and accessibility to veterinary clinics, which may allow enough quantities to be issued for extended periods. It is up to the vet to determine if the client has enough expertise to utilize the medicine appropriately.
Health Canada indicated that the rationale for the move was to address concerns about antibiotic resistance in livestock and humans, reduce the overuse of antibiotics and to ensure antibiotics are used in a responsible, effective manner.