Huge amounts of ionophores [1] are used as feed additives. That class of drugs is not used therapeutically in humans. I think other antibiotics are also used quite extensively as feed additives, but I'm less clear on them. If you search on 'vancomycin feed additive', you see discussion about replacing it with other drugs.
There are health benefits to the animals (the drugs prevent 'bloat'), but they also increase the weight gain per pound of feed, which the farmer (rancher? lot manager?) is going to take into account.
There are health benefits to the animals (the drugs prevent 'bloat'), but they also increase the weight gain per pound of feed, which the farmer (rancher? lot manager?) is going to take into account.
[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionophore