Memorandum submitted by Mr Francis J Anthony
BVMS, MRCVS, ARAGS (W 9)
1. I qualified in 1964 from Glasgow University
Vet School and have been in general mixed practice in the country
town of Bromyard, in Herefordshire, since 1 October 1964.
2. The practice is now a 50:50 livestock/companion
animal practice, but for many years was predominantly a mainly
farm animal practice.
3. I am a past president of the British
Cattle Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Association
and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe. I have been one
of the main spokesmen for the veterinary profession on BSE.
4. Whilst there have been many changes in
the fortunes of the livestock industry and hence the livestock
sector of the veterinary profession, I do not share the current
gloom and doom of many of my colleagues.
5. There are exciting times ahead for the
livestock industry and opportunities for the veterinary profession,
but thinking must change.
6. Traditionally the veterinary surgeon
has responded to demand and has galloped behind disease, "fixing
it" when it goes wrong. Indeed, the profession does have
an excellent reputation for "turning out & fixing it".
It has less of a reputation for making sure it doesn't go wrong
in the first place.
7. We need to constantly remind ourselves
and the livestock sector which we serve, that we are not here
just to look after the health & welfare of our farm animals
but that we are all involved in the production of food.
8. There are three main areas, which preoccupy
the consumer:
Animal Health—many believe that all farm
animals are riddled with diseases, which pose a threat to human
health: BSE,Campylobacter, E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria etc.
Animal Welfare—many believe that all farm
animals are kept in poor conditions and that farmers are cruel.
Food safety—many believe that all farmers,
aided and abetted by the veterinary profession and the pharmaceutical
industry are busy overdosing animals with antibiotics, growth
promoters etc . . . to the detriment of food safety.
9. Neither the industry nor the veterinary
profession has done a very good job in dispelling those three
misconceptions.
10. We have spoken for years about a "Stable
to Table" approach to food safety and yet, the first real
controls, certainly for meat and meat products doesn't take place
until the animals reach the abattoir—some two years after
its birth, in the case of much of our beef. This does not make
any sense.
11. It is time for a totally different approach,
but there needs to be a change of mindset within the livestock
industry and within the veterinary profession serving that industry.
12. We should be able to account for animal
health, animal welfare and food safety from "Stable to Table",
and we need to devise ways of so doing.
13. Every livestock enterprise must have
a health plan which addresses the three issues mentioned above.
14. The veterinary profession must persuade
farmers that they are producing food and that they must invest
in animal welfare, animal health and food safety. Fees must be
regarded as an investment showing a return and not just another
cost.
15. There is much to be done on most farms—both
in intensive and extensive systems—to help guarantee that
safe food comes from healthy and happy animals. It can be done.
16. I will be pleased to expand, if required.
24 April 2003
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