The routine use of antibiotics to promote animal growth does little to benefit protein undernutrition in the developing world

Date

2005

Authors

Collignon, Peter
Wegener, Henrik C
Braam, Peter
Butler, Colin

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Abstract

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.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: antibiotic agent; animal food; animal growth; animal health; antibiotic resistance; caloric intake; cereal; commercial phenomena; developing country; diet supplementation; food industry; growth; health hazard; human; industrial production; industrialized

Citation

Source

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31