FAO Highlights the Need for Better Livestock Health Management as Antimicrobial Resistance Risks Grow

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has released a new economic assessment highlighting the long-term risks of antimicrobial resistance in livestock production. According to FAO, antimicrobial resistance poses growing challenges to food security, livestock productivity, economic welfare, and human health.

The report notes that antimicrobial growth promoters may provide short-term productivity benefits in some production systems, especially where disease pressure is high and access to veterinary services, biosecurity, and affordable alternatives is limited. However, the long-term economic losses linked to rising antimicrobial resistance could be much greater than the short-term costs of reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use.

For livestock producers, feed mills, and animal nutrition companies, this trend reinforces the importance of improving animal health management through prevention, nutrition, biosecurity, and better production practices. As the industry moves toward more responsible antimicrobial use, practical nutritional solutions that support gut health, feed efficiency, immunity, and stable growth performance will become increasingly important.

The issue is especially relevant for modern swine, poultry, ruminant, and aquaculture production, where animals often face challenges such as intensive farming conditions, feed changes, environmental stress, and disease pressure. Maintaining intestinal stability and improving nutrient utilization can help animals perform more consistently while supporting healthier and more sustainable production systems.

As global livestock demand continues to grow, the animal nutrition industry will play an important role in helping farms reduce health risks, improve feed conversion, and build more resilient production systems. The future of livestock production will depend not only on higher output, but also on better prevention, responsible management, and long-term animal health support.

Source:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “FAO report highlights long-term economic case for tackling antimicrobial resistance in livestock,” June 3, 2026.