Reasons for antimicrobial use in feed among U.S. pig farms in 2016, by age

Antimicrobial usage in farming facilities has come under fire in recent years due to the possibility that antimicrobial resistance in farm animals could spread to human populations. In 2017, the USDA pledged 11 million U.S. dollars to fund research to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. As of 2016, approximately 60.4 percent of nursery-age pigs and 35.2 percent of grower/finisher-age pigs were given antimicrobials to treat respiratory disease.

近年来，由于农场动物中抗菌药物耐药性的可能性可能传播至人类群体，农场设施中的抗菌药物使用受到了广泛的批评。2017年，美国农业部承诺拨款1100万美元用于资助研究，以减轻抗菌药物耐药性的问题。截至2016年，大约60.4%的幼猪和35.2%的生长/育肥阶段猪因呼吸道疾病而接受抗菌药物治疗。