The Use of Antibiotics and Hormones in Animal Feed
Antibiotics are chemicals produced by living organisms that are used
to kill or inhibit the growth of other infectious micro-organisms.
Most antibiotics prevent the growth of microorganisms, which they act
on instead of completely killing them. Antibiotics are extra cellular
products meaning that they can be extracted for use; Penicillin is an
example of this as it comes from the fungus Penicillium notatum1.
Hormones are chemicals that transfer information and instructions
between cells in animals and plants. They regulate growth and
development, controlling the function of various tissues. Like
antibiotics, hormones can be produced and placed in animal feed, for
example Bovine Somatotropin, which is given to cows to increases milk
production.2
The use of hormones and antibiotics in animal feed has been a
controversial topic for many years. There are obvious advantages and
disadvantages with the use of such products. Farmers see hormones and
antibiotics as a major advantage as the increase their profits and
gain the maximum out of their livestock. However, health concerned
organizations want to ban the use of these products due to the
increasing fears that they can cause harm to the consumers.
For over 50 years, antibiotics have been added to the food of animals
such as poultry, cattle and pigs. The main purpose for doing so is to
lower the risk of disease in animals. Farm animals are housed together
in overcrowded areas, which are very dirty. The hygiene level can get
to such a poor state that they are often in contact with their own
excreta as well as excreta of the other animals they are housed with
and because of tight single air space they share, the likelihood of
catching diseases from one another is further increased and very often
a whole heard can be infected at one time. If these problems could be
eradicated it could save a lot of time and money for the farmers. The
use of antibiotics and hormones before the livestock actually catches
There are many issues regarding the raising and producing of various livestock animals, and the use of pesticides on various types of crops. The movie Food.Inc does a good job explaining these issues, but in a very biased way. It makes agriculturists look like terrible people, when this is not the case.
Chicken is a major section of the economy of agriculture in United States. That is why the genetically modified chickens are consumed by millions of people including children. Chickens that are genetically modified are raised in filthy cages throughout their lives and pass through many mistreatments. Their main food consists of hormones, corn, and genetically modified organisms (Lundeen). All these foods are aimed at making them grow at a faster rate and increase their weight. The heavy weight makes them become crippled and even starts to suffer from a variety of diseases like ammonia, organ failures, getting a weak immune system, bronchitis, and re...
A growing issue in the world today is the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in animal production industry. However, for over sixty years Americans have been exposed to hormones on a regular basic when they consume beef. (Organic Consumer Association) On average eighty percent of all feedlot cattle are given hormones to help them grow at an increased rate. (Communication Foundation) “In 1988 the European Union banned the use of all hormone growth promoters.” (Organic Consumer Association)
Factory farming began in the 1920s soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D. Shirley Leung said, when these vitamins are added to feed, animals no longer require exercise and sunlight for growth (B2). This allowed large numbers of animals to be raised indoors year-round. The greatest problem that was faced in raising these animals indoors was the spread of disease, which was fought against in the 1940s with the development of antibiotics. Farmers found they could increase productivity and reduce the operating costs by using machines and assembly-line techniques. Unfortunately, this trend of mass production has resulted in incredible pain and suffering for the animals. Animals today raised on factory farms have had their genes manipulated and pumped full of antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals to encourage high productivity. In the fast food industry, animals are not considered animals at all; “they are food producing machines” (BBC). They are confined to small cages with metal bars, ammonia-filled air and artificial lighting or no lighting at all. They are subjected to horrible mutilations: beak searing, tail docking, ear cutting and castration. The worst thing is that ...
A growing issue in the world today is the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in animal production industry. However, for over sixty years Americans have been exposed to hormones on a regular basic when they consume beef. (1) On average eighty percent of all feedlot cattle are given hormones to help them grow at an increased rate. (2) “In 1988 the European Union banned the use of all hormone growth promoters.” (1)
Imagine sinking your teeth into a t-bone steak that has come from a steer that was treated with hormones, or enjoying a glass of rBGH treated milk. The steak and milk may not taste any different from the same untreated products, but the hormones they contain could both, directly and indirectly, have an impact on your health. The hormones that farmers in the U.S. administer to the cattle are dangerous and have negative effects on the people and the environment. Although America admits hormone use in cattle, the fact that Europe has banned hormone use raises many questions about the possible health risks these hormones may have on consumers.
“Misuse of antibiotics could result in selection for resistant bacteria”. This gentle warning mentioned by the inventor of antibiotics, Sir Alexander Fleming, seems to have lost its meaning over the course of years. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health concern; antibiotics used in factory farmed animals raised for human consumption contributes to this problem. Scientific evidence confirms that by the consumption of meat that contains antibiotic-resistant microbes, some antibiotic resistant bacteria are transferred from animals to humans ("GAO"). Factory farming has its benefits, but issues arise due to the overuse of antibiotics in factory-farmed animals, and this essay aims to propose a solution by analyzing Denmark’s successful antibiotic banning policies.
Animals were once raised in a more humane and sanitary manner, but in the modern age of factory farming, animal cruelty has become common with large farm complexes. In reality these animals are housed in conditions worse than sweat shops. Under these conditions the animals are more prone to contracting illnesses due to the high amounts of bacterial growth. Furthermore, animals are fed sub-standardized feed such as genetically modified corn, which is low in nutrition, and does not contain the animal’s natural and essential dietary needs.
Chickens are selectively bred and given feed with arsenic added to it to promote faster growth. A study conducted in 2006 found that 55% of uncooked chicken bought in a supermarket contained arsenic (Farm Sanctuary). Studies which have been completed focusing on long term exposure to arsenic showed that it can cause skin, lung, kidney or bladder cancers ("Scientific Facts on Arsenic."). Dairy cows are often repeatedly injected with bovine growth hormone, a genetically-engineered hormone that has been proven to increase the risk of health problems in dairy cows. The growth hormones used most commonly by dairy industries have been shown to notably increase the risk of breast, prostate and colon cancer in people who consume beef (Farm
Today people are using pesticides and hormones in many of the items that we use each day and it’s affecting our society in various ways. Pesticides are used in many different ways including: keeping insects away from plants, controlling weeds, and controlling the spread of diseases to plants. Hormones make animals grow faster and/or produce leaner meat for food. Although some people believe that pesticides and hormones should be used to help crops and livestock, they can be very harmful to others as well as the environment.
The veterinary field is a very controversial topic for those with strong morals and ethics. Ethics stand in the way of some client’s requests which may lead to a loss of clients and money but maintains ones moral standing. Veterinarians are frequently faced with ethical dilemmas. Consideration of animal welfare and ethical issues is an essential component of good clinical practice in veterinary medicine and surgery. While using the ethical frameworks of the veterinary principles may not change the actual decisions made by these doctors, an understanding of ethical issues is important for doctor-client communication and maintaining a positive look to the public.
Antibiotics are used worldwide and although their uses have helped many people, it doesn't come without risk. The use of antibiotics treats people and animals alike to cure infection and are easily excusable through physicians. However in recent years, since antibiotics are used so universally, antibiotic- resistant strains have become a growing problem. This suggest that the bacteria is adapting to the antibiotics and through natural selection, the antibiotic- resistant bacteria have grown in numbers. The scientific community worries about future treatment of diseases if the bacteria continues to adapt. For example tuberculosis which hasn't been a problem in some time, has started to reoccur as a much harder to treat strain. Antibiotics are the go to method of treating infection but we need to be careful when we are using them.
Feed is a future world where technology is at it’s most advanced level. It is common for science fiction novels to portray a futuristic society riddled with cold predictions about the apocalypse. The destruction of the environment, rampant consumerism, and technological advancement shown in Feed are incredibly relevant to modern society, showing us what we have to change if humanity wishes to survive. The impact of new technology is apparent all around us, especially in the way we communicate, run business and understand the world. This has provided functionality to everyday tasks and as a result, has become a necessity. Over the course of history, we humans have been inventing new and better things to ease our troubles.The invention of the wheel aided us with fast and easy transportation of resources as well as commute, and the invention of the compass sparking the age of exploration and colonization. Just like the wheel and the compass, the internet was invented, giving users unlimited information with the click of a button.
Antibiotics have been vital tools in the fight against bacterial infections, however their effectiveness has waned in recent times due to the advent of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. According to a review by P, the uses of antibiotics, as well as influences from the environment have allowed such bacterial strains to respond to changes in their environment rapidly, and so develop resistance. This acquired ability can have serious and broad implications in the medical field, evident in a study by O into the resistance of intestinal Staphylococcus aureus.
In April 2008 the In Vitro Consortium first met at the Norwegian Food Research Institute. The consortium is “an international alliance of environmentally concerned scientists striving to facilitate the establishment of a large scale process industry for the production of muscle tissue for human consumption through concerted R&D efforts and attraction of funding fuels to these efforts.”Meat in both its production and its consumption has a number of destructive effects on not only the environment and humans but also live stock. Some of these effects are antibiotic resistant bacteria due to the overuse of antibiotics in livestock, meat-borne pathogens (e. coli), and diseases associated with diets rich in animal fats (diabetes). Meat consumption all over the world is increasing making meat a global issue. As a result many researchers have been trying to create meat substitutes to minimize the impact of consumption. Substitutes, to date, have been made from soybeans, peas, or even from animal tissues grown in a culture.