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Should the use of antibiotics in farm animals be restricted?
The FDA want to restrict the use of antibiotics in farm animals, calling it a serious threat to human health. Farmers say antibiotics hold diseases in check and keep costs to consumers lower. What do you think?
JAMES ROBINSON, Dayton: “I think their primary reason for using antibiotics is to accelerate weight gain of the livestock. And whatever they feed to them, we end up consuming.”
NORMAN OLDHAM, Harrison Twp.: “I’d be more worried about the disease coming from the animals that didn’t get the antibiotics.”
PATTY BELL, Clayton: “I think there’s too much governmental involvement, but our food source has to be regulated somehow. It depends, too, on the farmers. Are all of them alike in the way they treat their livestock? Probably not, or we wouldn’t have had that egg problem. I buy my meat from Landes, where they don’t use antibiotics. We go to a local farmer who doesn’t use pesticides. It’s more about where you purchase what you eat.”
DARREN KALL, Dayton: “We only eat pastured, grass-fed, antibiotic-free meat. When you raise livestock that way, you don’t need so many antibiotics, because the animals are less likely to be sick. Those who keep animals in confined spaces are more likely to breed the diseases they’re worried about.”
KATHY KNALL, Beavercreek: “I would need more information, as with most issues. There’s probably pros and cons to both sides. I don’t buy all organic, but I do think about the issue.”
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Business, Health/Medicine
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By TJ
October 1, 2010 11:46 AM | Link to this
The reason so many young girls are developing so early is because of all of that antibiotics and hormones in our meat and dairy supply. Whatever the animal consumes, so do we. Buy meat and dairy from small local farms, and you will get a healthier and safier product. I refuse to buy meat and eggs from big box stores, it is just gross. You have no idea what you may be consuming, and what horrible conditions that animal may have been living in.
By paul
October 1, 2010 2:01 PM | Link to this
The old adage: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies here. The use of antibiotics to treat a condition that does not exist is going to be as bad for the animal as it would be for you or me. The animal builds up a tolerance for the organism that the anti-biotic is meant to prevent and becomes lethal before anyone notices. The safest practice for all concerned would be to prohibit the sale of any meat or dairy product that has traces of antibiotic drugs in it.
By Linda
October 1, 2010 7:44 PM | Link to this
Antibiotics are approved by FDA and used carefully by farmers to prevent disease. Healthy animals help make our food safer. Studies show organic foods have the same microorganisms as regular meat . . it is not any safer or purer. In fact, USDA tests for residues and meat with residues is not allowed to be marketed.
By Skokum
October 2, 2010 2:42 PM | Link to this
I am a retired farmer and we were always very careful with the use of antibiotics but I can flatly state they were never used for promoting weight gain. They were used to either treat disease or to prevent disease where there was no vaccine for the problem. I have saved many a critter with the judicious use of injectable antibiotics and prevented abortion storms with adding it to feed at late stages of pregnancy. There is no legislative substitute for good livestock management. In trying to police the feeders who abuse the use of antiobiotics they could well take a valuable tool away from the responsible producers. We ate what we raised and surely would not have done anything that would endanger our family.
By Melli
October 2, 2010 10:15 PM | Link to this
If animals would be kept in better conditions, there would be no need for antibiotics. I don’t care if prices go up a bit. I don’t have to have meat every day. So I rather spend more money for a good source of meat than little money for junk! Come on people - you put the best oil and the best gas in your car, why do you want to feed your bodies the cheapest food????? Quality of life for farm animals will bring quality to our table.
By Bill
October 3, 2010 8:26 AM | Link to this
Europe has no antibiotics in their meat and young girls still develope early. Studies show it’s because of better diets.
By Really?
October 3, 2010 11:04 AM | Link to this
Better diets? Are you serious? High fructose corn syrup in everything, antibiotics in meat & milk, less physical activities…girls are NOT developing earlier due to better diets….Please don’t take the word of the industries feeding you full of this stuff, they are pretty bias….
By Bill
October 3, 2010 11:33 AM | Link to this
Ref: By Really I’m just repeating University studies over the last 30 years. The studies said young girls have more calories in their diet and more access to better foods causing them to mature earlier.
By Bill
October 3, 2010 11:41 AM | Link to this
Ref:Paul Milk and meat are already tested for antibiotics. That is why antibiotic manufactures have a withdraw time stated on the label. The animal can not be sent to market during the withdraw period. I realize your next question might be, has there EVER been someone who broke the law?
By Really?
October 3, 2010 12:54 PM | Link to this
I believe a study may show that 30 years ago because we ate better 30 years ago…but obesity is at all time highs with type 2 diabetes increasing in children. No “time” to prepare food and who wants to waste good hard earned money on the healthier more costly stuff so we eat processed everything. What my mom had me eat 30 years ago is much better than what I feed my family. I admit that I am guilty of all this and will never say we eat healthy…
By Bill
October 3, 2010 2:10 PM | Link to this
Ref: By Really The 30 years refers to data collected over the last 30 years showing trends. You and I both probably had better foods(we didn’t have as many junk food choices) and we had a lot less TV and computer time…more exercise.
By Adam
October 3, 2010 7:39 PM | Link to this
Of course it should be restricted. I’m so glad I became a Vegetarian. Everyone should watch the movie Food Inc. You can watch the whole movie on youtube. Its a real eye opener.
By robin
October 4, 2010 9:50 AM | Link to this
To me eliminating antibiotics from our meat is a no brainer. It’s as though we have been conducting an uncontrolled experiment on the American people and our children. Do we have to even wonder why our children are maturing at a younger rates, have mental health issues or ADD, ADHD, the increase in childhood diseases is out of control in my opinion and how many diseases we fight today could simply be a result of our uncontrolled chemical experiment on our food source and our people!!! It’s crazy! We can’t continue to put the synthetic chemicals into our foods and not expect some major change to occur, in our brain chemistry at the very least!!! Wake up America!!! How about the money being spent on all these preservatives and antibiotics be spent on prevention and more natural and attuned ways of feeding not only our animals and plants raised for food, but we the humans as well. Just a thougt!!
By Farmer Mike
October 4, 2010 11:21 AM | Link to this
As a farmer I want to make sure that my animals are as healthy and content as possible. Antibiotics are an important resource for treating our livestock. On my farm I use preventative antibiotics to get my cattle through periods of stress, one example is when weaning calves from their mother. If I would not feed an antibiotic at this time I would end up with several sick calves, having to resort to using a higher class of antibiotics to treat them that are at even more of a risk of contributing to human resistance. When treating my animals with any type of medicine I also make sure that I read and follow all laws and labels correctly, making sure that meat from my farm is safe for anyone to eat. I eat what is grown on my farm, therefore would do nothing to my on my farm that would endanger my family If antibiotics where banned I would still strive to make sure my livestock where well taken care of, but it would result in alot more time, more disease, higher death loss, and ultimately higher price in food. As long as consumers are willing to pay that higher price and my animals are content I will continue to raise livestock on our families farm.
By Really?
October 4, 2010 11:43 AM | Link to this
I think the majority of us who don’t believe in the use of antibiotics understand that prices will go up. I am willing to pay that price. I am not sure I understand preventive antibiotics? They are given preventive antibiotics because they might show stress at being weaned? I would imagine being weaned is stressful for any offspring be it humans or cows. Yet you wouldn’t give a baby a preventive antibiotic for less stress. How do they get sick without this preventive antibiotic? Just curious.
By Farmer Mike
October 4, 2010 12:28 PM | Link to this
Ref: By Really? Any time an animal has stress they have a more chance of getting sick. I have the choice of treating with preventative antibiotics that have less of a chance of causing human resistance, or waiting for animals to get sick, which a portion normally will and treat them with high dose antibiotics that have a higher chance of causing human resistance. Of course there is a third choice of no treatment at all and hope they live. I think its great that farmers are willing to provide a wide variety of choice in the marketplace for you to choice from. Its also great to hear that you have made a conscious choice to support thy type of farmer you feel most comfortable with, allowing him/her to stay in business even if it means a higher cost of production.
By Heather
October 4, 2010 1:01 PM | Link to this
Its not just the antibiotics that these farmers are using but growth hormones are given to the livestock. I agree with Adam’s post, everyone needs to see the movie Food Inc or read Michael Pollan’s books Defense Of Food, you wont want to eat anything these farmers serve.
By really
October 4, 2010 1:09 PM | Link to this
You are correct food was much better years ago than it is today. People today eat unhealthy much of this is to blame on todays farming with all their antibiotics and growth hormones they give the livestock. Laws should be passed against them.
By kimmikav
November 17, 2010 5:57 PM | Link to this
Hey i am suuper boy