Policy

Antibiotic Use in Animals and Welfare Implications

Excessive antibiotic use in livestock drives antimicrobial resistance while masking underlying welfare problems.

Key Facts

Around 70 percent of global antibiotic use is in animals, predominantly in livestock production
Antibiotics are used prophylactically in many countries to compensate for poor welfare conditions
Antimicrobial resistance is projected to kill 10 million people per year by 2050
The EU banned preventive antibiotic group treatment in 2022; many countries lag behind
Reducing antibiotic use requires improving housing, management, and reducing stocking density

Welfare Considerations

Heavy antibiotic use in intensive animal agriculture masks underlying welfare problems by treating disease symptoms rather than addressing root causes. Animals kept in better welfare conditions require fewer antibiotics. Restricting antibiotic use drives necessary improvements in animal welfare while protecting public health.

What You Can Do

Choose products from farms committed to responsible antibiotic use
Support campaigns for global bans on prophylactic antibiotic use in farming
Advocate for welfare improvements as the route to reducing antibiotic dependence
Support research into alternatives to antibiotics such as vaccines and probiotics