Futuristic farm with advanced biosecurity measures.

Future Farming: Balancing Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use

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Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A look into how livestock production is adapting to antimicrobial resistance and the critical role of biosecurity."


As the global population continues to expand, so does the demand for food, especially animal protein. Meeting this demand efficiently requires innovative technologies and practices within agriculture. However, diseases constantly threaten the efficiency of livestock production, making it crucial to find effective control methods.

Antimicrobials have been a key tool in managing bacterial diseases in livestock. In the United States, they are used not only to treat specific illnesses but also as feed additives to prevent disease and promote growth. This practice, however, has raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance, leading to proposals to curtail or eliminate their use as feed additives.

This article examines the current policies on antimicrobial use, particularly in comparison to the European Union, and discusses the future of antimicrobial use in U.S. livestock production. We'll also explore the increasing importance of biosecurity programs and the role of Cooperative Extension Services in promoting effective biosecurity and informing policy decisions.

The Push for Biosecurity: Why It Matters

Futuristic farm with advanced biosecurity measures.

The use of antimicrobials in livestock production has become a contentious issue, with many advocating for stricter regulations. Concerns over antimicrobial resistance have driven much of the debate, highlighting the potential risks to both animal and human health. The European Union has already taken steps to ban antimicrobials for growth promotion, and similar policies are being considered in the United States.

The European Union's experience after eliminating antimicrobial feed additives offers valuable insights. While it led to a decrease in the overall use of antimicrobials, it also resulted in some immediate challenges, including health problems and decreased efficiency in livestock. This underscores the need for robust biosecurity measures to prevent disease introduction and spread.

  • Disease Prevention: Preventing animal diseases is crucial for fighting hunger and malnutrition.
  • EU Experience: Eliminating antimicrobial feed additives in the EU led to health issues and decreased efficiency.
  • Biosecurity Measures: Heightened biosecurity is essential to prevent infectious diseases.
Biosecurity involves a range of practices aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of disease agents. These include strict hygiene protocols, controlled access to farms, proper sanitation, and effective pest control. By implementing comprehensive biosecurity programs, livestock producers can reduce their reliance on antimicrobials and maintain animal health and productivity.

Extension's Role: Educating for the Future

Cooperative Extension Services play a vital role in promoting effective biosecurity practices. They provide education and resources to livestock producers, helping them implement best practices for disease prevention and control. Additionally, Extension Services can serve as a bridge between the agricultural community and the public, providing accurate information and fostering informed discussions about food animal production.

To meet the food security demands of a growing global population, the agricultural industry must continue to innovate and adopt new technologies. However, it's equally important to communicate the benefits and safety of these technologies to the public. Extension Services can help bridge this gap, ensuring that consumers and policymakers have the information they need to make informed decisions.

By focusing on education, research, and community engagement, Cooperative Extension Services can contribute to a more sustainable and secure food system. This includes promoting responsible antimicrobial use, enhancing biosecurity measures, and fostering a greater understanding of modern livestock production practices among the public.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2527/jas.2011-4739, Alternate LINK

Title: Extension Education Symposium: The Future Of Biosecurity And Antimicrobial Use In Livestock Production In The United States And The Role Of Extension1

Subject: Genetics

Journal: Journal of Animal Science

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: S. Clark, R. Daly, E. Jordan, J. Lee, A. Mathew, P. Ebner

Published: 2012-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are antimicrobials, and why are they significant in livestock production?

Antimicrobials are substances used to manage bacterial diseases in livestock. They have been utilized not only to treat illnesses but also as feed additives to prevent diseases and promote growth. However, this practice has led to concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria evolve to resist the effects of these drugs. This makes it difficult to treat infections, which is a major threat to animal health and productivity.

2

What is biosecurity, and how does it work?

Biosecurity is a set of practices designed to prevent the introduction and spread of disease agents on a farm. These measures include strict hygiene, controlled access, sanitation, and pest control. The purpose is to minimize the risk of infectious diseases, thus reducing the need for antimicrobials. Implementing robust biosecurity programs allows livestock producers to maintain animal health and productivity while decreasing their reliance on antimicrobials.

3

Why is the use of antimicrobials in livestock production a concern?

The use of antimicrobials in livestock has become a contentious issue because of antimicrobial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials, particularly as feed additives, has accelerated the development of resistant bacteria. This creates potential risks to both animal and human health, making it more difficult to treat infections. This situation has prompted stricter regulations and a focus on alternative strategies like enhanced biosecurity.

4

What is the role of Cooperative Extension Services?

Cooperative Extension Services are important because they provide education and resources to livestock producers. They help implement best practices for disease prevention and control. They act as a bridge between the agricultural community and the public by providing accurate information. Extension Services promote informed discussions about food animal production, assisting the industry in adapting to changing regulations and promoting sustainable practices.

5

What happened when the European Union eliminated antimicrobial feed additives?

In the European Union, the elimination of antimicrobial feed additives initially led to some challenges, including health problems and decreased efficiency in livestock production. This experience underscores the importance of robust biosecurity. Without effective biosecurity measures, disease outbreaks become more likely, potentially negating the benefits of reduced antimicrobial use and impacting animal health and productivity. The EU's experience serves as a cautionary tale and a key reason why biosecurity is critical in the U.S.

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