Many farming organizations aren’t happy with the conclusions of a two and a half year study by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, for obvious reasons. Here’s the overview:

The commission called for a massive overhaul in the livestock industry, aimed at protecting people, animals and communities. It made six main recommendations, aimed at Congress, state governments, universities and others.

Phase out and ban the use of antibiotics as a growth stimulant in livestock, because the practice could render some human antibiotics ineffective.

Improve disease monitoring and tracking.

Initiate new federal regulations meant to control the zoning and manure-management at industrial livestock operations, and provide instructions on what aspects states would regulate.

Phase out within a decade confinement systems that restrict the natural movement of animals and end some practices considered harmful or painful to the animals, and provide assistance to operations that change to more animal-friendly techniques. Widely used gestation grates and restrictive farrowing crates are among the equipment targeted to be replaced.

Increase competition in the livestock industry

Increase public spending on research into livestock-related pollution and related issues to avoid the potential of skewed, industry-backed studies. And, it says, universities should disclose what interests back studies.