Webinar: The Economics of Antibiotic Use in U.S. Livestock Agriculture

In this webinar, ERS Economist Stacy Sneeringer discussed the potential economic effects of restricting antibiotic use as presented in the recently released ERS report, The Economics of Antibiotic Use in U.S. Livestock Production (see link below). U.S. farmers use antibiotics to treat, control, and prevent disease in their livestock, but also to increase productivity (production purposes). Concern is growing that excessive antibiotic use in livestock and humans will contribute to the emergence of organisms that are resistant to most or all antibiotics. Due to this concern, pressure is mounting to limit the use of antibiotics in livestock production. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance implementing voluntary plans to phase out the use of medically important antibiotics in livestock for production purposes.

Economics of Antibiotic Use in U.S. Livestock Production