Advocates to stop the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals met for a "Pig Pickin" event at the Barbeque Joint in Chapel Hill.

The group said that animals raised on farms with a large amount of production use antibiotics to kill illnesses caused by sub-standard living conditions.

They claim  the overuse and misuse of antibiotics leads to an increase in dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria which could threaten public health.

Farmer Eliza McLean said she does not use any antibiotics in her animals unless it's necessary. Also, McLean said she does not over crowd the animals, letting them run free in the sun.

"If we're eating proteins that are receiving these at a low level throughout the animal's life we're going to get a low dose effect. Our bodies get used to this and when we administer them to combat an illness they will be less effective then we like to see," McLean said.

They also highlighted the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act which will be discussed in the House of Representatives in the fall.

This legislation said that antibiotics will only be used on animals that get sick, not on a regular basis.