Concerns About Free-Choice Medicated Feeds in Animal Production
Author Information
Author(s): David C. Love, Meghan F. Davis, Anna Bassett, Andrew Gunther, Keeve E. Nachman
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Hypothesis
The use of free-choice medicated feeds in food animal production may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Conclusion
The use of antibiotics in food animals for non-therapeutic purposes, especially through free-choice feeding, poses significant public health risks.
Supporting Evidence
- Free-choice medicated feeds can lead to inconsistent dosing of antibiotics.
- Overdosing can cause toxicity in animals, while underdosing can lead to treatment failures.
- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can emerge from the use of medicated feeds in livestock.
Takeaway
Giving animals the choice to eat medicated feed can lead to them getting too much or too little medicine, which can make germs stronger and harder to fight.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from authors affiliated with organizations that advocate for animal welfare.
Limitations
The commentary does not provide original research data but discusses existing literature and policies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website