Livestock

Antimicrobial Use in Livestock and Animal Welfare

Antibiotic use in livestock is both a welfare issue and a public health concern, requiring approaches that maintain effective treatment while reducing unnecessary use.

Key Facts

Livestock account for approximately 70% of global antibiotic consumption
Prophylactic antibiotic use in healthy animals drives antimicrobial resistance
The UK has reduced veterinary antibiotic use by over 50% since 2014
Metaphylactic treatment of groups at risk of infection remains common practice
Antibiotic stewardship programmes are now required in many farm assurance schemes

Welfare Considerations

Reducing antibiotic use in livestock is essential for preserving treatment efficacy, but must not come at the cost of animal welfare. Animals with bacterial infections have a right to effective treatment. The goal is eliminating unnecessary use through better biosecurity, vaccination, and management, not withholding treatment from sick animals.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance schemes with antibiotic stewardship requirements
Choose meat from farms committed to responsible antibiotic use
Advocate for complete bans on prophylactic antibiotic use in healthy livestock
Support investment in alternatives including vaccines and biosecurity
Engage with policy debates on antibiotic use in agriculture