Antibiotic Usage in Livestock

Context: A new FAO study published in Nature Communications projects that global antibiotic use in livestock could rise by 30% by 2040 under a business-as-usual scenario.

About Antibiotic Usage in Livestock:

• What is it? Antibiotic usage in livestock refers to the administration of antimicrobial drugs to farm animals for disease prevention, treatment, and growth promotion.

• Antibiotic usage in livestock refers to the administration of antimicrobial drugs to farm animals for disease prevention, treatment, and growth promotion.

• Why are Antibiotics Used?

• Preventative care: To stop disease outbreaks in intensive farming. Therapeutic treatment: To cure infections. Growth promotion: In some countries, sub-therapeutic doses are used to enhance weight gain and feed efficiency.

• Preventative care: To stop disease outbreaks in intensive farming.

• Therapeutic treatment: To cure infections.

• Growth promotion: In some countries, sub-therapeutic doses are used to enhance weight gain and feed efficiency.

• Concerns and Impacts:

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Overuse leads to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, affecting human and animal health. Environmental impact: Antibiotics excreted by animals pollute soil and water ecosystems. Food safety risk: Residues may enter the human food chain if withdrawal periods aren’t observed.

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Overuse leads to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, affecting human and animal health.

• Environmental impact: Antibiotics excreted by animals pollute soil and water ecosystems.

• Food safety risk: Residues may enter the human food chain if withdrawal periods aren’t observed.

• Global and National Initiatives to Counter Overuse FAO’s RENO FARM Initiative (2024)

• FAO’s RENO FARM Initiative (2024)

• Aims to reduce antibiotic dependence on farms. Provides policy support, technical training, and sustainable livestock strategies.

• Aims to reduce antibiotic dependence on farms.

• Provides policy support, technical training, and sustainable livestock strategies.

• UN AMR Declaration (2024): Global commitment to cut antimicrobial use in agrifood systems by 2030.

• India’s National Action Plan on AMR (2017–2021, extended): Promotes surveillance, regulation, and awareness around antimicrobial use in livestock.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Health

• Government policies on public health and international commitments on AMR.

• GS Paper 3 – Environment, Agriculture & Biodiversity

• Sustainable agricultural practices, food security, and climate-resilient livestock systems.

• Essay & Ethics

• Ethical concerns around animal welfare, public health, and environmental responsibility in food systems.