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The large and expanding use of antimicrobials in livestock, a consequence of growing global demand for animal protein, is of considerable concern in light of the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Use of antimicrobials in animals has been linked to drug-resistant infections in animals (1) and humans (2). In September 2016, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly recognized the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animals as a leading cause of rising AMR. In September 2018, the interagency group established by the UN Secretary General will report on progress in the global response to AMR, including antimicrobial consumption in animals. We provide a baseline to monitor efforts to reduce antimicrobial use and assess how three global policies might curb antimicrobial consumption in food animal production: (i) enforcing global regulations to cap antimicrobial use, (ii) adherence to nutritional guidelines leading to reduced meat consumption, and (iii) imposing a global user fee on veterinary antimicrobial use.
Good thing we've moved on to eating insects.
(Score: 2) by leftover on Sunday October 01 2017, @10:41PM (5 children)
Antibiotics/antimicrobials in feed are not being used to treat diseases per se. For some reason (that I think is still not known) it makes the animals grow more quickly. Unless farmers can get a higher price for using no-antibiotic feed, they are at a competitive disadvantage to do so. Find a solution to this and their use of antibiotics will cease immediately.
Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
(Score: 2) by Whoever on Monday October 02 2017, @12:55AM (2 children)
Perhaps the reason is unknown because there is very little evidence that it does promote growth. It looks like another con from the pharma industry.
(Score: 2) by leftover on Monday October 02 2017, @03:23AM (1 child)
Wow. If true, that will deserve a lynch mob of historic proportions.
From a broader perspective this would be yet another example of corporate bullshit being paraded around as "science". Farmers will be seriously pissed at being misled and they already have pitchforks.
Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 02 2017, @05:18AM
I farm and trust me, they get way bigger, way faster. Last time I checked my non-AM to my neighbors AM-fed, he gets 5 days or so off maturity and some of his birds are literally so large they have difficulty walking.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 02 2017, @05:04AM
Antimicrobial use alters the gut flora in many species, which causes animals to digest food differently. Now, many of them have been banned and you are having a harder time finding vets that will prescribe them (without some, ahem, persuasion). Of course, it is now getting to the point where non-lot farmers are actually getting higher prices for more humane treatment. The bigger buyers have vertically integrated (and don't really buy on open market) and the smaller buyers really feel the push for antibiotic free and a lesser bit for free-range or cage-free birds.
HOWEVER, not all of them have been banned. Plus, farmers are now transitioning to either broader spectrum antimicrobial substances, or off-label from friendly vets, or prescription from a vet properly persuaded to see how sick your animals are. That way they can still get the benefit, but still get the coveted "no antibiotics" label.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 02 2017, @04:26PM
yes, they feed low dose antibiotics to food animals to make them grow faster. see the 42 day wonder [freefromharm.org]. they need to be sued for every illness and death due to drug resistant bacteria. make them stop their disgusting stupidity.