Antibiotic pressures in livestock and meat systems: evidence and interventions for a One Health future

Antibiotic use (ABU) in livestock is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance, yet global levels, determinants, and long-term trajectories remain poorly resolved. We compiled a harmonized dataset across countries for 2020 and a longitudinal series of meat production from 1961 to 2023 to quantify patterns, evaluate socioeconomic and regulatory correlates, and forecast to 2050 using a production linked proxy model. Total ABU correlated strongly with national meat output (Spearman r = 0.906, p < 0.001). ABU intensity in milligrams per kilogram meat was highly heterogeneous and showed no global association with production. Gross domestic product per capita was unrelated to total use or intensity, learning adjusted years of schooling related only weakly to intensity, and legal controls on use or sales alone did not improve efficiency. Projections indicate a near linear rise of about 1,663 tonnes per year, reaching 131,828 tonnes in 2030 and 165,094 tonnes in 2050, with cumulative use in 2020 to 2050 surpassing 1950 to 2020. Reducing intensity by ten to fifty percent by 2050 would avert 16,509 to 82,548 tonnes. Findings motivate an integrated roadmap of source control, farm and market stewardship, and scalable surveillance using production as a proxy within a One Health framework. HighlightsO_LIModern livestock production remains heavily dependent on antibiotics. C_LIO_LIHigher antibiotic use in livestock correlates with lower usage efficiency at the global scale. C_LIO_LICurrent legislative controls on antibiotic use have failed to enhance usage efficiency. C_LIO_LISince the 1950s, global antibiotic use in livestock has followed a steady linear rise, projected to continue through 2050. C_LI