Page 8 - ACV Journal DECEMBER 2015
P. 8
Editorial
WELCOME TO THE
DECEMBER EDITION
OF THE ACV JOURNAL
Dave Beggs
As another year draws to an end, I am pondering the things that recently. In Australia, the Dairy herd is free of EBL but the beef herd
people worry about. Climate change, terrorism, fire, drought, flood, may not be (difficult to test them all!). If you are examining a beef bull
antibiotic resistance and more are on the list for many. going on to a dairy farm you should test it for EBL. We’re building a
spot into BullReporter to record this.
We know that the time people spend worrying about things is often
not commensurate with their true risk. Whilst terrorism is terrible Thirdly, Welfare. Prescribing local anaesthetic, sedatives and
on many levels, there are about 55 deaths a day in France from anaesthetics is problematic, but we must find a way to make our
diabetes, and 132 from coronary disease. No-one has ever written painful husbandry practices meet the expectation of customers.
an opera about diabetes despite the fact that it has killed way more Again, this is an area where time people spend worrying about
people than has unrequited love… things is often not commensurate with their true risk. I suspect
that the welfare issues that stem from poor housing, nutrition,
In any case there are some important things that as ACV and inappropriate end of life decisions regarding pets in city high
members we need to think about, even though they might not be rise buildings is simply ignored in the debate surrounding the
that spectacular… confinement of cattle on ships. Best we get it all right …
Firstly, Antibiotic Resistance. I encourage you to take a look at It’s good to see AVA tackling all these issues, and it will be important
your prescribing practices and see if you might be contributing. for ACV members to be part of that process.
I recently attended a seminar in Canada where McDonalds is
bringing in a “Sustainable Beef” brand, and antibiotics are very As well as things of concern, as we approach Christmas and a new
much part of that. “Sick kids need antibiotics and so do sick year, there are things that we can be grateful for.
farm animals” one speaker said, but then followed it up by “But
it’s irresponsible to use last line of defence antibiotics when it’s Thank you to those who have responded to emails and contributed
not the last line”. The major issue in production animals seems to this edition of the Journal. I was struck by the number of kind
to be the use of third generation cephalosporins. Not having comments about how much members appreciate the things that
a withholding period is lovely, but should you really be using ACV does. With the List, Journals, Webinars and Conferences we
ceftiofur for footrot ? manage to foster a community that supports each other through
difficult cases and difficult times.
Secondly, Biosecurity. An article recently published (Google
“Gethmann BVD Germany” for details) suggested that vets were I encourage you to become involved. You get back more than you
responsible for the spread of a nasty BVD strain on German farms. put in. And I hope to see you at a conference, on the list or in the
We have a role to play too in EBL testing in Australia. There is an Journal soon.
article later in the journal, but EBL has been linked to Breast Cancer
Have a safe and happy holiday season.
8 The Australian Cattle Veterinarian | volume 77 | December 2015 www.ava.com.au/cattle
