The routine use of antibiotics to promote animal growth does little to benefit protein undernutrition in the developing world.
Some persons argue that the routine addition of antibiotics to animal feed will help alleviate protein undernutrition in developing countries by increasing meat production. In contrast, we estimate that, if all routine antibiotic use in animal feed were ceased, there would be negligible effects in these countries. Poultry and pork production are unlikely to decrease by more than 2%. Average daily protein supply would decrease by no more than 0.1 g per person (or 0.2% of total protein intake). Eliminating the routine use of in-feed antibiotics will improve human and animal health, by reducing the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Collignon
Peter
P
Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology Department, The Canberra Hospital, Woden ACT 2607, Australia. peter.collignon@act.gov.au
Wegener
Henrik C
HC
Braam
Peter
P
Butler
Colin D
CD
D000383:Agriculture; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002417:Cattle; D003906:Developing Countries; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D008460:Meat / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011200:Poultry / Q000254:growth & development; D011203:Poverty; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019155:Veterinary Drugs