Antibiotic Use in Livestock — Welfare and Resistance Implications

The widespread use of antibiotics in farm animal production both treats animal suffering and contributes to antimicrobial resistance, creating a complex welfare policy challenge.

Key Facts

Approximately 73% of all antibiotics used globally are consumed by farm animals
Many antibiotics used in animals are the same or similar to those used to treat human infections
The EU banned antibiotic growth promoters in 2006; the US FDA banned routine growth promotion in 2017
Animals treated with antibiotics for genuine disease benefit from welfare improvement through pain relief
WHO has listed antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global public health threats

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic use in livestock involves a genuine welfare tension. When antibiotics treat genuinely sick animals, they reduce suffering directly. When used preventively to compensate for poor husbandry, they mask welfare problems that should be addressed structurally. The welfare-positive approach: reserve antibiotics for treatment of genuine disease, address underlying husbandry issues that require prophylactic use, and use pain management to address acute suffering. Reducing antibiotic use through better welfare — more space, reduced crowding, enrichment, and better biosecurity — simultaneously improves individual animal welfare and public health.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy products from farms with low antibiotic use certifications
Advocate for mandatory veterinary prescription requirements for all livestock antibiotics
Support research into alternatives to antibiotics for infection prevention in livestock
Engage with food companies about supply chain antibiotic reduction commitments
Support international frameworks for antibiotic stewardship that include livestock