Modern pork production uses a variety of tools to ensure the health, welfare and productivity of
pigs. Therapeutic (treatment and prevention of disease) use and use for enhancing growth and feed
efficiency (growth promotion) are the two options for use on the farm. Collecting meaningful and
accurate antibiotic use data faces significant challenge because of the number and variety of
production systems, the need for broad stakeholder analysis of the data and the lack of consistent
and science-based definitions of antibiotic use categories. The National Animal Health Monitoring
System (NAHMS) is one mechanism that estimates uses based on a statistical sample of the nation’s
swine herd. If, based on sound science, additional information on antibiotic use is considered
necessary, stakeholders should discuss the best implementation strategies to achieve the desired
result. Producers continue in their science-based commitment to ensure the safety of pork and to
maintain consumer confidence.