Exclusive Animal Antibiotics

Overuse of antibiotics is the major reason for the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. As these strains do not respond to particular antimicrobials, we may return to a pre-antibiotic era with deaths caused by what would have been minor infections. Antibiotics are used in massive quantities in farming. Here, the antibiotic is used as a growth enhancer, rather than to simply prevent a bacterial infection. Pretty obviously, faster growing chickens and cows, mean bigger profits for the farmer (especially if he/she is involved in an intensive rearing and fattening process). £100m has been donated to set up the Ineos Oxford University Institute (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/oxford-animal-only-antibiotic-lab-could-prop-up-intensive-farming-critics-say) The Institute has been created to design novel antimicrobials, solely for use in agricultural animals. The hope is that, this separatation of antibiotics intended for use in humans and animals, will reduce the likelihood of medically-problematic strains of resistent bacteria developing. Concerns have been expressed that this development might simply 'prop up' factory farming enterprises (and we do need to reduce our reliance on meat and dairy products to help deal with climate change). I fully understand the need to 'protect' the limited range of antibiotics that are employed in medicine. I am not sure, however, that this solution will work. Farm animals share many of their bacteria with humans (so, zoonotics may be problems). It is also known that bacteria sometimes trade DNA with other species, meaning that resistance can be passed to them. I think there is too much overlap for there to be an effective separation of antibiotic roles.