Antibiotics are used to treat and maintain your health that are caused by bacteria. Just like humans need antibiotics to prevent, control, treat diseases and infections, livestock (cows, pigs, chickens) also need to use antibiotics for the same thing. The drugs are usually added to their feed and water.
Why is it important? What impact does it have on the world?
Antibiotics used for raising livestock are important because it isn't uncommon for livestock or animals that we raise for eating in general to get sick. The way we raise our animals for food seems very inhumane. When animals are being raised indoors and very close to each other there is a likely chance of getting sick, so antibiotics are there to help save the livestock. Technically, the livestock that intakes antibiotics will never be considered organic, so if one of the animals on the organic farm were to get sick, then they would be sent to the conventional production system. The impact of using antibiotics on livestock is on the general health of the public. At least two million Americans become sick annually and about 23,000 die from antibiotic resistant infections.
Antibiotics Used for Raising Livestock
What is it? How does it work?
Antibiotics are used to treat and maintain your health that are caused by bacteria. Just like humans need antibiotics to prevent, control, treat diseases and infections, livestock (cows, pigs, chickens) also need to use antibiotics for the same thing. The drugs are usually added to their feed and water.
Why is it important? What impact does it have on the world?
Antibiotics used for raising livestock are important because it isn't uncommon for livestock or animals that we raise for eating in general to get sick. The way we raise our animals for food seems very inhumane. When animals are being raised indoors and very close to each other there is a likely chance of getting sick, so antibiotics are there to help save the livestock. Technically, the livestock that intakes antibiotics will never be considered organic, so if one of the animals on the organic farm were to get sick, then they would be sent to the conventional production system. The impact of using antibiotics on livestock is on the general health of the public. At least two million Americans become sick annually and about 23,000 die from antibiotic resistant infections.
http://www.sustainabletable.org/257/antibiotics
http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/99943
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/health/fda-to-phase-out-use-of-some-antibiotics-in-animals-raised-for-meat.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0