Antimicrobials in Animal Husbandry

Using antibiotics to promote growth, increase feed efficiency, and reduce mortality in indoor poultry farming is unsustainable and has been implicated in increased antibiotic resistance in humans. The use of antibiotics in food-producing animals is recognized as favoring the development of antibiotic resistance, and the ongoing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a public health issue of increasing concern. The concern is that current life-saving antibiotics are becoming less effective. The requirement is for more toxic and costly antibiotics, reducing the available alternatives. Antibiotic use is significant in the emerging public health crisis of antibiotic resistance. Although most antibiotic use occurs in agricultural settings, relatively little attention has been paid to how antibiotic use in farm animals contributes to the overall problem of antibiotic resistance. The global spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria is a continuing challenge to the healthcare of humans and domesticated animals.

This book discusses antimicrobial resistance mechanisms relevant to food-producing animals. Students, researchers, scientists, environmentalists, veterinary practitioners, academicians, stakeholders, and policymakers can benefit from using Antimicrobials in Animal Husbandry as a resource that addresses microbial biotechnology, microbiology, toxicology, and all disciplines related to antimicrobial research.

Features of the book:

• Covers antimicrobial resistance in animal husbandry with up-to-date research
• Describes the public health impact of the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry
• Includes recent references on each plausible antimicrobial resistance in human and animal health
• Describes the impact of improper use of antimicrobials on animal production
• Develops strategies for alternatives to antimicrobial application in food animals
• Aims to minimize the health-related problems of consumers resulting from antimicrobial residues in food-producing animals