In Part I, Couric reports on the widespread use of antibiotics on farm animals (pre-mixed into their feed) and its deadly consequences, like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) now and potentially an organism that will one day be resistant to all the antibiotics we have. In Part II, Couric reveals the "Danish Experiment", a 12- year experiment that eliminated the ubiquitous use of antibiotics on farm animals. Since then, the Danish pork industry has grown by 43%! Also, since the ban, Denmark has seen a decline in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Why do we feed our animals antibiotics? Let me remind you that we live in the United States, a fast-food society. The meat industry demands product delivered quickly and inexpensively - and with the use of hormones and antibiotics, farmers do just that. They can raise thousands of animals at once in sheds. The risk of one getting sick and affecting the whole lot is high, so antibiotics are the answer. But hormones and antibiotics are not the answer because eventually they become part of our feed, meaning our diet contains those too.
But drug-use on animals isn't the only story here.
Animals raised kindly are healthier for you (...and the environment but I'm focusing on health here). Yes, meats, eggs, dairy products from pasture-raised animals contain no hormones or antibiotics, but they are also:
- Lower in total fat and calories
- Contain more omega 3 fatty acids - read more on the benefits on a previous blogpost
- Rich source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a cancer-fighting omega-6 fatty acid
- Higher in vitamins and minerals
- Less likely to be recalled - studies show grassfed beef have less (to none) deadly E.coli
- Less animal-stress means less stress hormones for the animal & for you.
For more information, please contact me or visit:- Animal Welfare Approved
- eatwild
- American Grassfed Association
- Organicnymilk blog - from a New York dairy farmer
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