Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Animal Health

Routine antibiotic use in livestock farming masks poor welfare conditions while driving antimicrobial resistance that threatens both animal and human health.

Key Facts

Approximately 70% of medically important antibiotics are used in livestock globally
Antibiotics used as growth promoters are banned in the EU but still used elsewhere
High antibiotic use correlates with high-density, poor-welfare farming conditions
Antibiotic resistance threatens the ability to treat infections in all animals
Farms with better welfare conditions typically require fewer antibiotics

Welfare Considerations

The relationship between antibiotic use and animal welfare is inverse: farms with better welfare conditions need fewer antibiotics because healthier, less stressed animals resist disease better. When antibiotics are used preventively to compensate for crowded, stressful conditions rather than to treat sick animals, they function as a welfare substitute rather than a welfare support. Reducing antibiotic use through welfare improvements is simultaneously better for animals, humans, and the long-term effectiveness of veterinary medicine.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy products from antibiotic-free or low-antibiotic farms
Support policies restricting prophylactic antibiotic use in livestock
Advocate for welfare standards that reduce disease pressure without relying on antibiotics
Support research into alternatives to antibiotics in livestock management