Livestock Antibiotic Use Down 33 Percent

Antibiotics use in livestock dropped 33% between 2016 and 2017, according to data from the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s 2017 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals documents the decline.

The report also found domestic sales and distribution of all medically important antimicrobials decreased 41% since 2015 and decreased 28% since the first year of reported sales in 2009. While sales data do not necessarily reflect actual antimicrobial use, the reduction in sales volume observed in 2016 and 2017 is an indicator that ongoing efforts to support antimicrobial stewardship are having a significant impact, according to the FDA.

The federal watchdog says optimizing how antimicrobial drugs are used and limiting their use to only when necessary to treat, control, or prevent disease will help to preserve the effectiveness of these drugs for fighting disease in both humans and animals.

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