Antibiotic Resistance and Animal Farming: A Shared Crisis

The routine use of antibiotics in animal farming is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance, threatening both animal and human health globally.

Key Facts

Approximately 70-80% of all antibiotics used globally are consumed by animals, primarily in agriculture for growth promotion and disease prevention
The WHO has classified antimicrobial resistance as one of the greatest global health threats, projected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050
Critically important antibiotics for human medicine including fluoroquinolones and colistin have been used in animal farming, driving resistance in pathogens that affect humans
The EU banned antibiotic growth promoters in 2006; the US restricted medically important antibiotic use in food animals in 2017 but use for disease prevention continues
Reducing antibiotic use in farming typically requires improving animal welfare conditions, as crowded and stressed animals are more disease-susceptible

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic resistance and animal welfare are deeply interconnected: the crowding, stress, and poor ventilation of intensive farming systems create the disease pressure that drives antibiotic use, which in turn drives resistance. Reducing antibiotic dependence requires improving the conditions that make animals susceptible to disease — better housing, lower stocking densities, enrichment, and reduced stress. This convergence means that antimicrobial resistance policy and animal welfare policy are most effective when integrated.

What You Can Do

Advocate for a ban on preventive antibiotic use in animal farming in countries that have not yet enacted one
Support organic and higher-welfare certification schemes that prohibit routine antibiotic use
Reduce consumption of intensively farmed animal products to lower demand for systems that depend on antibiotic use
Push for international agreements on antibiotic use in agriculture under One Health frameworks
Support research into welfare-based alternatives to antibiotic disease prevention in intensive animal systems