Antimicrobial Resistance: The Animal Welfare and Public Health Connection

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis with deep roots in animal agriculture. The animal welfare and public health dimensions of AMR are inseparably connected.

Key Facts

WHO designates AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats
Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 73% of global antibiotic use
Colistin — a last-resort antibiotic — has been used as a growth promoter in livestock in some countries
The mcr-1 resistance gene conferring colistin resistance emerged in Chinese livestock and has spread globally
Reducing antibiotic use in animals without improving welfare leads to increased mortality from untreated disease

Welfare Considerations

The animal welfare and AMR connection is bidirectional. Animals in poor welfare conditions develop disease that drives antibiotic use; antibiotic use selects for resistant bacteria that threaten both human and animal medicine. When effective antibiotics are lost, animal infections that were treatable become fatal. The welfare cost of untreatable infection — prolonged suffering before death — is severe. Simultaneously, the public health consequences of AMR mean that optimising antibiotic use in animals is not just an animal welfare issue but a fundamental human health priority.

What You Can Do

Choose animal products from producers committed to antibiotic stewardship (RUMA in the UK)
Support campaigns for global bans on antibiotic use for growth promotion
Advocate for welfare standards that reduce disease pressure and antibiotic need simultaneously
Donate to AMR research organisations working on both human and veterinary applications
Engage with your MP about UK leadership on international AMR in agriculture standards