posted on Thursday, June 28, 2018 in Central Region News
Veterinarians work with pig farmers every day to keep pigs healthy. But your customers may not know that they also help keep people healthy. Just ask Michelle Sprague, DVM, with AMVC Management Services in Audubon, Iowa.
“Veterinarians are the front line of defense when it comes to food safety,” said Sprague. “This includes everything from ensuring the health of pigs entering the food chain to guarding against disease spread between pigs and people at county fairs.”
Safest Food Supply
Sprague said, “Sending healthy animals to harvest reduces the risk of contamination and continues producers’ legacy of providing the safest food in the world.”
Many farms that Sprague serves post the We CareSM principles in their offices.
“We Care emphasizes the producers’ commitment to doing the right thing, including guarding public health,” Sprague said. “It gives pig farmers common goals to rally behind and to strive for every day.”
We Care emphasizes how people, animals and environmental health are connected. This also is reflected in the One Health Initiative, which forges collaborations between physicians, veterinarians and other health care professionals.
“Veterinarians’ role in One Health is to reduce the incidence and severity of zoonotic and foodborne illnesses,” Sprague said. “It’s exciting to be practicing with so many tools, resources and information to simultaneously improve lives of people, animals and the planet.”
Public Health
Michelle Sprague joins other veterinarians in working with pig farmers to protect public health. Producers affirm our obligation to ensure our practices protect public health. Use management practices consistent with producing safe food. Manage the use of animal health products to protect public health.
Story Credit to Pork Checkoff: Darcy Maulsby and Jan Jorgensen, June 2018
Manage manure and air quality to protect public health.
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- amvc veterinarian
- health
- swine