For example, bovine somatotropin ( growth hormone ) is given to dairy cattle to increase milk production. This hormone occurs naturally but is also given in a synthetic version as well. With the increased amount of BTS there is an increased risk of mastitis in the cattle. With this infection comes the treatments of antibiotics. Hmmm, could that be passed thru the milk?? Sure can and is.
Cattle are also given synthetic estrogens and progesterones to speed up maturity. Could this be passed on as well?? Sure can and is.
You don't have to be a leftist to conclude that when animals raised for human consumption are given these products that inevitably these same products are passed on to us through the meats and dairy products.
As for you never seeing these things added to the feed, you won't. It is injected.
I will agree with you about the anti-biotics being overused, but BGH isn't standard fare at most small cattle operations.
But, when YOU go the Dr. these days, most of them will immediately reach for anti-biotics as well. For some reason they are treated as a cure-all, to the point that some bodies of water have measureable traces of them, just from being over used in HUMANS.
We have raised cattle from birth, to grill, and also hogs, and the use of artificial growth inducing methods is NOT as widespread as some believe.
I can't speak for the mondo, humongous cattle operations out west, though.