Animal Feed Research Paper
Emina Delic
Ms. Easter
English III
11 January 2013
The Use of Antibiotics in Animals Raised for Food
There are a variety of meats available at our local grocery store. Majority of Americans eat meat—poultry, beef, and pork. What happens when meat becomes harmful for us to eat? Antibiotics are considered the top of modern day medicine. However, their effectiveness is being eroded by indiscriminate use, both to treat infections in people, and to encourage growth in animals.
Antibiotics have been used in animal feed for over 50 years. Tetracycline, penicillin, and bacitracin have become the most popular in animal feed. In addition to these antibiotics there are chemical products that these antibiotics contain that remain in the animals’ bodies after the animals are fed. Antibiotics are now used regularly in animal feed in a rate of 2 to 50 grams per ton for improved performance in the animals (McDonald L, “Antibiotics in Animal Feed” 4). The reasons for using antibiotics in …show more content…
It is now becoming a serious health risk. These resistant infections have killed an estimated 70,000 Americans alone in 2008. About 88 percent of poultry bought is affected with bacteriums. Thousands of people became victims of this antibiotic resistant disease (“The Effects of Antibiotic Resistance.” 30 July 2009. Food and Drug Administration. 9 June 2010 http://www.fda.newtoday.gov/.) Using antibiotics in animals have consequences such as prolong infections, and increased hospital stays due to the resistance of typical antibiotics. When a human becomes resistant to the antibiotics given to them then they clearly will not work. This being, doctors have to move on to a more toxic antibiotic so that the infection is treated. However, the toxins in the stronger antibiotic can cause new problems in other areas of the body. Stronger medicine adds more to health care, which may become a problem in families
Ms. Easter
English III
11 January 2013
The Use of Antibiotics in Animals Raised for Food
There are a variety of meats available at our local grocery store. Majority of Americans eat meat—poultry, beef, and pork. What happens when meat becomes harmful for us to eat? Antibiotics are considered the top of modern day medicine. However, their effectiveness is being eroded by indiscriminate use, both to treat infections in people, and to encourage growth in animals.
Antibiotics have been used in animal feed for over 50 years. Tetracycline, penicillin, and bacitracin have become the most popular in animal feed. In addition to these antibiotics there are chemical products that these antibiotics contain that remain in the animals’ bodies after the animals are fed. Antibiotics are now used regularly in animal feed in a rate of 2 to 50 grams per ton for improved performance in the animals (McDonald L, “Antibiotics in Animal Feed” 4). The reasons for using antibiotics in …show more content…
It is now becoming a serious health risk. These resistant infections have killed an estimated 70,000 Americans alone in 2008. About 88 percent of poultry bought is affected with bacteriums. Thousands of people became victims of this antibiotic resistant disease (“The Effects of Antibiotic Resistance.” 30 July 2009. Food and Drug Administration. 9 June 2010 http://www.fda.newtoday.gov/.) Using antibiotics in animals have consequences such as prolong infections, and increased hospital stays due to the resistance of typical antibiotics. When a human becomes resistant to the antibiotics given to them then they clearly will not work. This being, doctors have to move on to a more toxic antibiotic so that the infection is treated. However, the toxins in the stronger antibiotic can cause new problems in other areas of the body. Stronger medicine adds more to health care, which may become a problem in families