Compare / Contrast: Organic -vs- Sustainable

Thanks Ladycat.

Your approach sounds much more reasonable to me. Antibiotics have a known half-life. After 5 half-lives 97% of the drug is cleared. After 10 half lives 99.9% of the drug is cleared. Most half lives are measured in terms of several hours, so if you withdraw the animal and it's products for a few weeks you should have essentially no drug remaining.

It just seems much more humane to treat the animal than to let the animal suffer with an infection hoping it will clear it on it's own. And, unfortunately, an animal that can earn it's keep is not viable on a small farm.

Maybe we should coin a new term, or rather, adopt an existing one: holistic farming.

It seems to me that our goal is to consider the larger picture rather than just focusing on one aspect. Considering the health / well being of all involved organisims - the people, animals, plants etc. and seeking a ballance that provides the greatest benefit for all.

Clearly, people have to be given priority - but that doesn't mean you should neglect the animals. But beyond that, you consider all people - the farmer, the consumer and even those just living in the area from a standpoint of the environment.

Sounds good to me.

Antibiotics were once miracle drugs. They still would be if they had not been badly abused. They have saved countless human lives.

I see nothing wrong with using them responsibly.

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