What is the goal of antibiotic use in livestock?
The Food and Drug Administration has approved antibiotics of responsible use in food animals to treat disease in animals that are sick, control disease for a group of animals when some of the animals are sick and to prevent disease in animals that are at risk for becoming sick. Ranchers give antibiotics according to the instructions on the label and under the direction of a veterinarian. They don’t like to use antibiotics unless it is absolutely necessary, because antibiotics are expensive, and they take time to administer.
