Replacing antibiotics: Is it cost efficient?

Alternatives to antibiotics are often seen as too costly. However, in terms of return on investment good antibiotic alternatives can deliver much more than disease management. In a healthy flock, antibiotics deliver no value but antibiotic alternatives can still offer benefits. Antibiotics or other substances with anti-microbial effects are applied regularly in livestock production. While the EU has banned antibiotics applied as growth promoters they are still regularly used for therapeutic rea