The 7th Annual University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Beef Cattle Conference took place June 22-23.

While 18 speakers shared their expertise in the field, one of the main topics discussed at the conference was resistance to antibiotics in cattle.

There is a resistance to antibiotics in cattle, which has become a trending topic in the beef industry, and research continues to determine how the use of antimicrobials in agriculture is effecting human health as well.

Dr. Herman Barkema, Professor in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Cumming School of Medicine, says regulations will come and producers must be part of the discussion.

"If producers want to be a part of the discussion, they have to talk with government people, regulators, veterinarians, to sit together and come with practical solutions to decrease the use of antimicrobials. If we don't do it, then the Government will come with it, and the Government will have a big push from Human Health."

The growth of consumers wanting their beef raised without the use of antibiotics is becoming more prevelant and is also raising animal welfare issues. Producers are having a hard time finding middle ground because they need these antibiotics to treat sick animals.

With this issue not going away anytime soon, producers are encouraged to get involved in the conversation.