Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture and One Health

The routine use of antibiotics in animal agriculture to promote growth and prevent disease in crowded conditions contributes to antimicrobial resistance that threatens both human and animal health worldwide.

Key Facts

Approximately 70% of medically important antibiotics globally are used in food animal production
Sub-therapeutic antibiotic use for growth promotion has been banned in the EU since 2006
Drug-resistant infections kill an estimated 700,000 people globally each year and projections suggest millions annually by 2050
Farms with higher welfare standards and lower stocking densities typically require less antibiotic use
The WHO, FAO, and OIE jointly advocate for phasing out growth-promotion antibiotic use globally

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic overuse in animal agriculture is a welfare issue in two directions: it enables the maintenance of crowded, stressful conditions by suppressing disease that would otherwise be rampant, and it generates antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause suffering in both animals and humans. Higher welfare farming systems with lower stocking densities, better ventilation, and more natural behaviors have reduced disease incidence and antibiotic reliance. This creates a virtuous cycle where better animal welfare supports better antibiotic stewardship.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy products from producers who publicly commit to responsible antibiotic use
Support policies requiring prescriptions for all antibiotic use in food animals
Reduce meat consumption as part of a broader approach to antibiotic stewardship
Ask food companies about their antibiotic use policies in supply chains
Learn about the One Health connection between animal agriculture and human antibiotic resistance