Antibiotics in feed have researchers squealing
Study provides new insights into antibiotics and pig feeds
Antibiotics in livestock feeds has become a discussion topic over the last decade. Some researchers at Michigan State conducted a study on pigs to see what happens to the microbial load in the gut of these pigs. The increase microbial load and antibiotic load in ground water, over medication of livestock, and biochemistry as it relates to genetic mutation are all great subjects to associate this article to. Have a great time with your lesson and keep liking these articles on Twitter.
http://research.msu.edu/stories/study-provides-new-insights-antibiotics-and-pig-feeds
What is feed efficiency?
A measure of how well animals convert feed into weight gains.
Why are researchers concerned about in-feed antibiotics?
They are concerned about the strains of microbes that are becoming resistant to antibiotics and how that could affect humans and the environment.
Why do antibiotics increase feed efficiency in livestock?
Researchers do not know why and want to further study this to come to some kind of conclusion. Researchers do note that microbes associated with the conversion of feed to energy increased in animals consuming feed with antibiotics inside.
What specific bacterium was noted as having increased populations in the pigs studied?
E. coli
What was the primary conclusion about feed containing antibiotics in this article?
Antibiotics in pig feed increased the number of antibiotic resistant genes in gastrointestinal microbes in pigs.
