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Meat Giant Pledges To Cut Antibiotics On Four Farms

Cattle on an organic farm graze on silage.

U.S. meat processor Cargill says it will stop using antibiotics important for human medicine in about 18 percent of its cattle.

The decision will affect a total of 1.2 million cattle per year at four U.S. feed yards from one of its suppliers.

The move follows increasing pressure from public health advocates to end use of antibiotics for promoting growth. Widespread use can cause bacteria to develop immunity.

The U.S. Food and Agriculture Administration released voluntary guidelines in 2013 to reduce non-medical antibiotics use in livestock, with a goal set for December 2016.

The company's president, John Keating, said in a release that the decision was based partly on rising demand for antibiotic-free meat.

"We've listened to consumers and our customers, we've taken this first step, and we believe there are more steps coming in the not-too-distant future."

Top chicken producer Perdue said last month it eliminated antibiotics in two-thirds of its chickens. Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim's Pride have announced goals to stop non-medical use of those drugs.

Read More:



  • Cargill Says To Cut Antibiotic Use In Cattle By 20 Percent (Reuters)
  • Cargill Plans To Reduce Antibiotics Use In Beef Cattle By 20% (Wall Street Journal)


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