Experts warn Manitoba hog farms contributing to global antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a growing health concern around the world, and experts say what’s happening on Winnipeg farms plays a big role. In Winnipeg, the Humane Society is bringing together voices from across Canada to discuss how factory farming and antibiotic use could be putting both animals and people at risk.

The World Health Organization calls antibiotic resistance one of the greatest threats to global health, linking it to more than a million deaths each year — including thousands in Canada. Some experts believe the way antibiotics are used in meat production is adding to that problem, claiming healthy animals are often given medication to prevent disease rather than to treat it.

“They are fed small amounts of antibiotics inside their feed every day before they are sent to slaughter, and that’s a really big part of this problem,” said Vicki Burns of Hog Watch Manitoba.

Advocates say that’s why Manitoba has become a major focus. The province is home to some of the largest hog operations in the country, and groups like Hog Watch Manitoba argue that the size and density of barns can make routine antibiotic use more common — something they say contributes to drug-resistant bacteria.

“In Europe you must at least diagnose a disease, but in most of the rest of the world, including Canada, you don’t need to diagnose disease in one animal to treat 100,000 of them,” said Cóilín Nunan of the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics.

“This is where we see this work on changing the way these animals are being raised as the biggest effort we can make on prevention,” said Leanne McConnachie of World Animal Protection Canada.

“We need to go back to smaller numbers of animals being raised, pay attention to what they need to stay healthy, and you won’t need antibiotics,” added Burns.

However, local farmers disagree.

“Moving back to Old McDonald would be detrimental to animal welfare and animal health — he’s retired, and we should let him stay retired,” said Cam Dahl, general manager of Manitoba Pork.

Manitoba Pork, which represents the province’s producers, says farmers already follow strict rules on antibiotic use through national programs like PigSAFE. The organization says that while farmers share concerns about antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics can only be used under the direction of a veterinarian and are not given for growth promotion.

“Not to say that there isn’t room for ongoing improvement, but this is a topic farmers have paid attention to and developed really strong protocols to follow,” said Dahl.

CityNews reached out to the province for comment but did not receive a response yet.