Livestock Antibiotic Stewardship: Protecting Animal and Human Health

Antibiotic use in livestock is a critical welfare and public health issue. Responsible stewardship protects the efficacy of medicines that both animals and humans depend upon.

Key Facts

Approximately 73% of globally consumed antibiotics are used in food-producing animals
Subtherapeutic antibiotic use for growth promotion has been banned in the EU since 2006 and globally by WHO recommendation
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effectiveness of antibiotics for treating infections in both animals and humans
Animals in intensive farming systems face higher infection pressure due to crowding, stress, and limited immunity — driving antibiotic use
Alternatives to antibiotics include vaccines, probiotics, improved biosecurity, and reduced stocking densities
The Netherlands reduced veterinary antibiotic use by 64% between 2009 and 2015 through targeted policy intervention
Some farming systems (organic, high-welfare) prohibit prophylactic antibiotic use, relying on prevention
Colistin — a last-resort antibiotic for human medicine — has been used extensively in Asian livestock, driving resistance genes

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship intersects with animal welfare in both directions. Heavy antibiotic use in livestock often reflects underlying welfare problems — crowded, stressed animals with compromised immunity require more medical intervention. Reducing antibiotic use without addressing these root causes creates welfare harm through undertreated infections. Conversely, improving housing conditions, reducing stocking density, and implementing vaccination programs reduces the infection pressure that drives antibiotic use. The welfare-optimal approach is prevention through better husbandry, not restriction of treatment access for sick animals. Animals with infections have a welfare right to effective treatment — the goal is reducing the conditions that make such treatment perpetually necessary.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy products from certified systems prohibiting prophylactic antibiotic use
Support policies requiring veterinary prescription for all antibiotic use in livestock
Advocate for investment in vaccine development as alternatives to antibiotic-dependent disease management
Reduce meat consumption — lower production volumes reduce the aggregate pressure on antibiotic use
Support international coordination on AMR including the WHO Global Action Plan
Ask food companies about their antibiotic stewardship policies and reduction targets
Support research into non-antibiotic alternatives including competitive exclusion, bacteriophage therapy, and enhanced biosecurity