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
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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.
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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
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Source
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Type
Journal article
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DOI
Restricted until
2037-12-31