FDA targets antibiotic usage in livestock

Hobart dairy farmer Ray Diederich says he and most other dairy farmers use antibiotics in their animals responsibly, and only when needed.

"For the most part we don't use any antibiotics as preventative maintenance; we use it as treatment," he said. "We don't want the cattle to build up an immunity to (antibiotics) so that when they do get sick we can treat them. We use these drugs sparingly so that when we do need them, we have them."

The Food and Drug Administration says overuse of drugs in livestock is increasing the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may effect human health.

In a move that is roiling the livestock industry, the FDA is proposing to phase out antibiotics used to promote animals' growth. Farmers would still be allowed to use antibiotics to treat ill animals or to prevent them from getting sick. The FDA also wants to require veterinarian supervision of farm antibiotic use, something that isn't mandatory now.

The government's concern: Bacteria that become resistant to farmers' drugs are jumping to consumers through the meat, and microbes that can't be killed by an animal drug can also withstand the human version.

Dairy  vs. hogs

Young hogs on a farm near Hampton, Iowa, will get a series of antibiotics before they wind up on anyone's table as pork chops and bacon.

But one of the drugs used here and on other farms isn't designed to treat or ward off illness. That antibiotic fattens hogs on less feed, shaving farm production costs and boosting profits.