Antibiotic use on Kenya’s dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk

Muloi, D. and Moodley, A. 2024. Antibiotic use on Kenya’s dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk. The Conversation.

Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They’re sometimes used as “quick fixes”, to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water.

Animal husbandry now accounts for about two thirds of the global consumption of antibiotics. As livestock and fish production grows, by 2030 the consumption of antibiotics is projected to increase by 67%.

Worryingly, this overuse in food animal production can create problems for both animals and people.