The role and risks of antibiotics in animal production
Antibiotics play a dual role in animal production: they are used to treat and prevent disease (therapeutic use) and to promote growth and feed efficiency (sub-therapeutic use). While these applications enhance productivity and animal health, their misuse and overuse have significant drawbacks.
When used appropriately, antibiotics protect animals from disease, improving their overall health and ensuring a stable food supply. In some cases, antibiotics improve feed conversion efficiency, allowing animals to grow faster on less feed. However, sub-therapeutic use—administering low doses of antibiotics for extended periods—poses risks, particularly the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria evolve to withstand antibiotics, potentially rendering treatments ineffective in both animals and humans. Resistant bacteria can spread through direct contact, animal products, or environmental pathways, threatening public health globally.
The overuse of antibiotics is often linked to poor animal welfare practices, such as high stocking densities and unsanitary conditions. These factors exacerbate the spread of disease, leading producers to rely heavily on antibiotics as a preventive measure instead of addressing underlying issues. Mismanagement, such as failure to adhere to withdrawal periods, can also lead to antibiotic residues in meat and dairy products, raising consumer safety concerns.
To mitigate these risks, organizations like the FAO and initiatives like the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System advocate for prudent antibiotic use. Strategies include better farm management, improving animal welfare, and using alternatives like vaccines, vitamin supplements, or probiotics to reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Why vitamins?
As awareness of the risks associated with overusing and underusing antibiotics grows, farmers are encouraged to explore alternative methods to boost livestock productivity, such as proper supplementation with essential nutrients. Vitamins have been identified to enhance overall animal well-being. These carefully formulated supplements provide a comprehensive range of nutrients, promoting healthy and vibrant animal lives.
Among these, the use of vitamins, particularly vitamin A, has shown potential. Vitamin A supports immune function, reducing vulnerability to infections and thereby decreasing the need for antibiotics. Studies highlight its role in mitigating the severity and mortality of certain diseases, such as diarrhea, by strengthening mucosal barriers and promoting overall immunity.
Other alternatives include probiotics, prebiotics, vaccines, and improved farm management practices. These methods collectively help reduce reliance on antibiotics, addressing public health concerns like antimicrobial resistance.
Curious about what’s in these vitamin containers? This article has some intriguing insights.
Why is it important to check the containers?
A closer examination of the ingredients within vitamin containers often reveals the inclusion of various antibiotics, such as tetracycline. Administering these vitamin-disguised antibiotics to livestock can expose them to small doses of antibiotics, which is dangerous. While using these “vitamins” might have benefits, like reducing the burden of diseases caused by bacteria, the risks outweigh the benefits. Research shows this issue is especially severe in areas with insufficient regulation of veterinary medicines, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Risks of using these “vitamins.”
It has been noted that exposure to small doses of antibiotics can mask some infections, allowing the disease to spread within the farm without being noticed. This is dangerous as most animals can get infected, making treatment most costly. A significant concern is the emergence of resistant pathogens, often superbugs. These pathogens can be challenging to treat because they resist commonly available medications. These superbugs can sometimes spread to humans through contact with animals or the farm environment. This results in untreatable human infections since humans and animals are usually affected by the same organisms, and our medications are similar.
What should be done?
It is important to carefully examine drug packaging to understand the actual contents of products. This will reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics on farms, which is key to promoting the health of animals, farmers, and consumers of animal products.
References
https://www.fao.org/antimicrobial-resistance/key-sectors/animal-production/en/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6017557/
https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/266281/PMC2554185.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1
Further reading
Brewer's Grain as a Sustainable Feed Supplement: Reducing Methane Emissions in Goats and Cattle
Essential Tips for Choosing Animal Feed to Boost Health and Productivity
Optimizing Feed Particle Size for Poultry: Impact on Growth, Health, and Feed Efficiency
Influence of Rearing Substrate on Black Soldier Fly Larvae Nutritional Value for Animal Feed
Animal Welfare Standards: A Farmer's Guide to Balancing Ethical Practices & Market Access