Comments on: Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Agriculture

By: Emily Brooks

Emily Brooks — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:46:53 +0000

The other large piece of omission by Katie was her continued referral to providing antibiotics to “healthy” farm animals. I have two comments/concerns: who determines what a “heatlhy” animal is, and what are we really doing in large CAFOs where all of the animals are already sick?

By: Martha Mae Johnson

Martha Mae Johnson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:46:11 +0000

this is a really good site for important info

Martha Mae Johnson

By: Leslie McCain

Leslie McCain — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:45:35 +0000

Great article regarding use of antibiotics and factory farming.

Leslie McCain

By: Julie C

Julie C — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:00:17 +0000

Mostly good article, but you’ve stopped passing the buck too quickly. Yes, the factory farming system is definitely a horrendous link in the chain of responsibility – but that system came to be in response to American’s demand that they be provided with excessive amounts of food at prices their grandparents paid.
Roughly 35 years after I started grocery shopping, I can still (again? there was a brief pause) buy a gallon of milk within twenty cents of what I paid when I first started shopping – some days, I can buy it for less. Compared to other goods – gas at 49 cents a gallon with diesel averaging about 27, cigarettes at 63 cents a pack, and fabric under $1.50 a yard – and it’s pretty obvious why farming would become a losing proposition. With two thirds of Americans overweight or obese, it’s apparent that cheap food is a ‘be careful what you ask for’ thing. American consumers want cheap food, in unlimited and unseasonal varieties and unlimited quantities. Getting it may cost them their lives *and* their planet.

The other link that’s missing is pressure on ALL farmers from “Big Pharma”. The educational seminars ‘provided’ by the USDA and similar government and university-run system are often underwritten by pharmaceutical companies – they are there to sell their product, and the fact that the government allows and encourages their participation is tacit approval. The pharmaceutical reps regularly tell farmers they’re wrong for avoiding antibiotic and hormone use – we’ve actually heard the term ’stupid’ applied to farmers who refused to use them.

By: Steve Hoad

Steve Hoad — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:42:06 +0000

Education, moderation, husbandry and watchfulness. Of course the unnecessary use of antibiotics is — well, unnecessary. The watchfulness and education are prime necessities: watchfulness in the animals’ rearing and the education of all farm and slaughter/processing management and workers. And yes, currently “the bath water” needs changing but the “baby” has proven its worth over the years of medical research and science. Let’s hope the strainer in the drain is fine enough to filter appropriately. Thanks for a well reasoned post!