The Routine Use of Antibiotics to Promote Animal Growth Does Little to Benefit Protein Undernutrition in the Developing World

F. J. Angulo, P. Collignon, H. C. Wegener, P. Braam, C. D. Butler
2005 Clinical Infectious Diseases  
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).
more » ... iminating the routine use of in-feed antibiotics will improve human and animal health, by reducing the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
doi:10.1086/433191 pmid:16142667 fatcat:i53skwdz3nd3hdaspfxfcowxdu