Scientists urge government to address antibiotic overuse in farming

Scientists call for the federal government to implement policy restricting the use of prophylactic antibiotics in animal agriculture

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health threat and taking steps to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use in both farming and human medicine is critical to mitigating this threat.

In August 2023, World Animal Protection Canada published a comprehensive scientific literature review of antimicrobial use (AMU) in dairy and beef cattle, pigs and broiler chickens. Our report recommends a series of changes to animal management practices that would aid in significantly reducing prophylactic AMU in farm animals and resulting AMR concerns.

With the new federal government now in place, we believe a letter supporting our recommendations signed by veterinarians, animal welfare scientists, medical and public health professionals and others across Canada, is needed to elevate the issue and help support these goals.

If you agree with the findings in our literature review and our proposed recommendations, please review and sign the letter below, completing the fields indicating your credentials and affiliations. You may also forward this link to other colleagues you feel may have an interest in signing this letter.

Report: Reducing antibiotic use in farming through improvements to animal welfare

Letter: Scientists call for the federal government to implement policy restricting the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture

Contact us

To sign the letter urging the federal government to implement policy restricting the use of prophylactic antibiotics in farming, please complete the form below:

If accepted, your name, title and credentials will be added to the public letter.

Signed by:

Dr. Jennifer Ronholm
Canada Research Chair in Agricultural Microbiology
Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Associate Member, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Michelle Jane Jendral
PhD Animal Science (Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Biology)
Online Learning Faculty Member (Animal Behaviour) - Thompson Rivers Consultant Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Biology, BC, Canada

Dr. Anne Marie de Passillé
Farm Animal Welfare Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Senior Research Scientist (now retired)
Adjunct Professor, Universities of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Laval and Sherbrooke (now retired)

Dr. Jeffrey Rushen
Animal Behaviour and Welfare Scientist
Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (now retired)
Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia (now retired)