Economics of Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Livestock

Abstract

Rapidly rising incomes are driving demand for animal protein and livestock globally. The move toward more intensive production systems to support this increased demand is projected to increase the dependence on antibiotic growth promoters. The volume of antibiotics used for growth promotion in livestock outstrips that used for disease treatment in humans and creates significant selection pressure for the evolution of antibiotic resistance-a challenge for global health and resource conservation. This review describes the benefits and costs of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock and considers the prospects for more fully accounting for the externality costs.

The Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia Coli in Poultry Chickens and Variation According to Farming Practices in Punjab, India

“…Policy makers and researchers have focused their attention on the clinical overuse and misuse of antimicrobials (to treat colds and other viral infections, for example) as drivers of resistance emergence. Furthermore, a recent review of the effectiveness of AGPs in food animal production suggests that the effects of AGPs on improving production and decreasing mortality in the poultry industry are minimal and do not offset the costs of the AGPs themselves ( Cogliani et al 2011 ; Engster et al 2002 ; Graham et al 2007 ; Sneeringer et al 2015 ; Teillant et al 2015 ). Moreover, it is possible to reduce the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance by placing restrictions on the use of antimicrobials in food animal production without negative impacts on productivity, as evidenced by the experience of both the poultry and pork industries in Denmark ( Aarestrup et al 2001 ; Levy 2014 ).…”

“…The use of antimicrobials in subtherapeutic concentrations is increasing in response to heightened demand for food animal products worldwide, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, due to rising incomes ( Teillant et al 2015 ; Van Boeckel et al 2015 ). The global average annual consumption of antimicrobials in food animals was conservatively estimated in 2010 to be 63,151 ( ) tons.…”

Antibiotic use in chicken farms in northwestern China

“…Using antibiotics as a growth promotor is a serious problem worldwide, but it was rarely reported in our study. Even though the use of antibiotics as growth promoters is banned in many developed countries [6,31], China does not have any restrictions over the direct use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Recently, however, the Ministry of Agriculture approved 21 antibiotic products that may be added as growth promoters in commercial feeds [8].…”

Veterinarian shortage areas: what determines the location of new graduates?

“…As illustrated in the case of foot-and-mouth disease, such diseases can have disastrous macro-economic consequences due to the interdependence of economic sectors (Boisvert et al 2012). The shortage of veterinarian services may also have repercussions on human health related to the spread of zoonoses or chemical substances used to treat sick animals (Teillant et al 2015). Furthermore, the shortage of veterinarians increases the stakes in terms of regional development and land use planning.…”