Antibiotic Use in Farming: Welfare and Public Health

The routine use of antibiotics in intensive animal farming contributes to antibiotic resistance, while masking underlying welfare problems that better farming practices should address.

Key Facts

An estimated 70% of all antibiotics globally are used in animal agriculture
Many antibiotics used in farming are critically important for human medicine
Routine prophylactic use has been banned in the EU since 2022
The UK has significantly reduced antibiotic use in livestock through voluntary targets
Antibiotic resistance is projected to cause 10 million human deaths annually by 2050

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotics in farming are often used prophylactically because production systems create conditions where disease is inevitable without them. This masks poor welfare rather than addressing it. Animals in high-welfare environments with lower stocking densities, better nutrition, and reduced stress have lower disease rates and require fewer antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance threatens both animal welfare (untreatable infections) and human health, making this a critical One Health issue.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy from farms with responsible antibiotic use policies
Support campaigns for stricter international regulation of veterinary antibiotic use
Advocate for improvements in farming practices that reduce dependence on antibiotics
Support research into antibiotic alternatives including vaccines and probiotics