Bayer Animal Health today outlined their vision for the future of cattle production at the 26th World Buiatrics Congress in Santiago, Chile. At the scientific symposium, Bayer confirmed their commitment to transforming livestock production through bringing together world cattle industry thought leaders alongside their expert scientists. Presentations demonstrated how new approaches to livestock production will help veterinarians and producers meet the demands of the rapidly changing global market.
After the negative impact of the global financial crisis on the meat industry in 2009, world experts presenting at the 3rd International Bayer Cattle Symposium gave hope to producers worldwide, covering subjects from production trends over the next 40 years to the transformative power of effective parasite and nutrient management systems.
Dr Osler Desouzart, OD Consulting Brazil and a member of the Advisory Board of the World Agricultural Forum, presented predictions for global population growth and consumption over the next 40 years. His research concluded that the dramatic increase in population growth will drive continued growth in meat consumption. Dr Desouzart predicts that "looking towards 2050, the meat consumption could possibly double compared to 2008."
According to Dr Desouzart, adapting to the changing demands will be imperative if the meat industry is to meet the new markets' needs, as well as keeping pace with demand from traditional markets. Furthermore, consumer attitudes in the developed world are changing. "Today's consumers want to know what they eat, where does it come from, how it was produced. They want assurances that it is safe for their health as well as for the environment. Meat should come from animals that are well cared for and are healthy. Animal health is no longer a subject solely for veterinarians, it has become a core value for the consumer", concluded Dr Desouzart.
This new consciousness in meat consumption was highlighted in a presentation by Jerome Lyman, Corporate Vice President of Global Quality Systems, McDonalds, US. "Our customers value the place of beef in their diet; however, they are also expressing concerns about issues such as zoonoses and the production methods used in the food chain. McDonalds has long been at the forefront of efforts to rationalise anti-infective use and we are seeing these attitudes increasingly taking hold across the food industry. Cattle producers need to be able to demonstrate that their products meet the highest safety standards to match the consumers' drive to quality", said Mr Lyman.
The central role of animal health in successful livestock production was also reflected in the presentations of Drs Nicholas Jonsson of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and Marcelo Molento of the Universidade Federal do Parana, Brazil, who discussed the need for new approaches to parasite control. Veterinarians should understand the needs of producers regarding ectoparasite control and work with them focussing their specific needs. Dr Jonsson said, "All too often cattle producers are not looking to veterinarians when it comes to parasite control programmes, leading to suboptimal results. This is a waste of time and money and undermines the welfare of their livestock. Veterinarians should help their clients and work with them on tailored programmes that give optimal, cost-effective control", said Dr Jonsson. Dr Molento focused on the impact of technology transfer to improve endoparasite control in cattle production worldwide. "A clear example of the potential impact comes from scientific literature where effective endoparasite control can be seen with Eimeria spp. infection in cattle. These parasites cause considerable economic damage to the cattle industry. Yet we know that preventative treatment with toltrazuril in calves prevents disease and leads to significant increases in weight gain in both dairy and beef
cattle", said Dr Molento.
Jim Gerardot, Head of Global Marketing - Food Animal Products, Bayer Animal Health, said, "Bayer Animal Health continues to invest in research. With this knowledge, we are able to offer our customers the best possible solutions to meet their needs and provide education to ensure they can maximise the benefits. The research presented at WBC is another example of our global commitment to doing all we can to support the continuing transformation of livestock production to ensure a bright future for all our customers."
