Fischer Farms earns certification for responsible antibiotic use
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A beef cattle farm in Dubois County says it is the first in the country to receive a key certification related to the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.
Fischer Farms recently earned the Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use certification from the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at The George Washington University.
The farm said in a news release that the standards used to award the certification are intended to “preserve the efficacy of antibiotics for when we really need them—to treat medically sick animals and humans.”
Fischer Farms has been working to achieve the certification since 2021 and underwent a series of audits, observations, and visits by U.S. Department of Agriculture Quality System Assessment inspectors.
“This certification is a testament to our farm’s hard work and dedication to creating a healthier, natural environment for our livestock,” said Joseph Fischer, project manager for the CRAU process at Fischer Farms. “We believe that responsible antibiotic use is crucial for the future of farming and public health, and we are proud to lead the way in this important initiative.”
The meat industry is responsible for 73% of antibiotic use globally, Fischer Farms said, adding it hopes the certification will encourage other farmers to adopt similar practices.
The fifth-generation family farm raises beef cattle on 750 acres of land in the Dubois County community of St. Anthony. In 2023, the farm received a $15 million USDA grant to expand its own climate-smart initiatives and help other farmers in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky adopt regenerative farming practices.