What are sub-therapeutic antibiotics?
Updated: 5 hours ago
Sub-therapeutic antibiotics are antibiotics given to healthy animals to prevent illness or promote growth. Pre beef is raised on pasture, with no sub-therapeutic antibiotics.
What are sub-therapeutic antibiotics?
You may have heard this term, but if you have not, here is what it means. Many farmers use antibiotics with their cattle to cure or prevent illness. "Sub-therapeutic" refers to the use of antibiotics in a preventative manner. Antibiotics help control infectious diseases, but why would a farmer use them when the animal is healthy?
Studies show that sub-therapeutic antibiotic use can interfere with human health, because animal-to-human transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is possible. Simply put, using sub-therapeutic antibiotics means adding antibiotics to a cattle's system that are not ordinarily present, preventatively, to combat illness.
Some farmers also use sub-therapeutic antibiotics as growth promoters. Researchers as early as the 1940s found that animals fed low levels of antibiotics grew faster and used feed better. This appears to work by inhibiting normal microflora in the animal's gastrointestinal system, which frees up more energy for nutrient use and conversion to weight gain.
Does Pre use sub-therapeutic antibiotics?
The short answer is simple: no. Animals do not receive antibiotics on a daily basis, and only receive antibiotics in the case of illness. Pre never sources from feedlots, ever. When cattle and other livestock are in feedlots, they can experience many adverse conditions:
Overcrowding.
Exposure to sick animals.
Dirty stalls and water supplies.
Copious amounts of stress.
Farmers who use feedlots combat these issues by adding low doses of antibiotics to the feed, so the cattle can withstand the illnesses that can sweep through a facility. Because only healthy cattle are harvested, all animals must be kept as healthy as possible.
What if an animal is sick on pasture?
If an animal is sick, it is treated, and only then is it taken away from the herd while it recovers. Once the animal feels better and the traces of antibiotics have left its system, it goes back into the herd.
Because our farmers and cattle ranchers use healthy range practices, the animals do not get sick very often. When animals roam open spaces with plenty of sunshine, clean water, and nutrient-rich grasses, their bodies are strong enough to withstand illness naturally. With Pre, you have one less thing to worry about, because our livestock are not dosed to look healthy. They are healthy.
Read more: Vitamins A and B in grass-fed beef. For the full label guide, see no added antibiotics explained and understanding the meat label.
At Pre, we want to take your food in a whole new direction: backward, if you will, because we believe the best farming practices came before industrialization. It is not about the next big thing, but the first big thing: pre-industrialization. Our team is dedicated to new ways of thinking about meat production and sustainable farm practices, to provide a better product and set the gold standard for future generations.
FAQ
What does 'sub-therapeutic' mean?
It refers to using antibiotics in a preventative manner, on healthy animals, rather than to treat an illness.
Does Pre use sub-therapeutic antibiotics?
No. Animals do not receive antibiotics on a daily basis. Antibiotics are only given in the case of illness, and a sick animal is removed from the herd while it recovers.
Why do some farmers use them?
In feedlots, low doses of antibiotics in feed help cattle withstand illness that can sweep through a crowded facility. Some farmers also use them as growth promoters.
Where can I find Pre near me?
Check out our store locator to find a store near you. If you do not see a close location, you can request Pre at your local grocery store by filling out this form. You can also browse all Pre products, or find us on Instacart. Pre Brands beef is High Protein, delicious, and a healthy way to feed your family.
