Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics are among the most important tools in modern medicine, essential for preventing and treating infections in humans, animals, and plants. Without them, diseases that are easily treatable today could once again become fatal, and the global food system would be at risk. But the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents an urgent challenge, one that demands an effective global response.

The question is what form that response should take, especially in sectors such as agriculture and food production. The issue will take center stage this fall at a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly, where world leaders will debate how best to address AMR while ensuring that essential treatments remain available.

What’s clear is that simplistic, broad-stroke policies—such as arbitrarily restricting antimicrobial use without considering the complexities of food production and animal care—would be counterproductive. A one-size-fits-all approach risks undermining animal health, reducing global food security, and undoing years of progress in responsible antibiotic use.

The U.S. dairy industry is one sector that has worked for decades to strike the right balance. Dairy farmers are acutely aware of their dual responsibility: ensuring animal health while mitigating the risks of AMR. For more than 35 years, they have developed and refined a best-practices manual that emphasizes judicious antibiotic use. These guidelines, updated regularly, reflect the industry’s commitment to antibiotic stewardship, ensuring that antimicrobials are administered only when necessary and always under veterinary supervision.

That commitment begins on the farm, where dairy farmers collaborate closely with veterinarians—referred to as Veterinarians of Record (VORs)—to create herd health plans tailored to the specific needs of their animals. These plans, reviewed at least annually, provide structured protocols for disease prevention, record-keeping, and the responsible use of antibiotics. By following these evidence-based approaches, the U.S. dairy sector has made significant progress in reducing antibiotic reliance. The numbers tell the story. In 1996, approximately 0.104% of bulk milk tankers tested positive for antibiotic residues. By 2023, that figure had dropped more than 93% to just 0.007%.

This steady reduction highlights an essential point: meaningful progress against AMR does not require outright bans or arbitrary reductions in antibiotic use. Instead, it calls for targeted, science-driven strategies that address actual risks without compromising the ability of veterinarians and farmers to protect animal welfare. Encouragingly, the most recent draft of the UN’s AMR Political Declaration appears to acknowledge this nuance. The declaration, revised from an earlier draft and released in mid-August, calls for global reductions in antimicrobial use but avoids imposing a rigid, uniform mandate that could jeopardize effective animal care.

At the heart of this discussion is the role of antibiotics not only in treating diseases but also in preventing their spread. Prophylactic use—administering antibiotics to at-risk animals before symptoms appear—is an essential tool in certain cases. Take mastitis, a painful and potentially dangerous inflammation of the mammary gland in dairy cows. If one cow exhibits symptoms, it’s likely that others in the herd have already been exposed, even if they show no outward signs of infection. In such cases, preventive treatment can stop the disease from spreading further, ultimately reducing the overall need for antibiotics.

Eliminating prophylactic antibiotic use altogether could have unintended consequences. When veterinarians are forced to wait until symptoms manifest before administering treatment, infections can become more severe and widespread, leading to greater animal suffering and, paradoxically, an increased demand for antibiotics. Even with robust prevention programs in place, some animals will inevitably fall ill or suffer injuries. In these cases, veterinarians must retain the ability to administer appropriate treatments under established best practices.

An approach that ignores the realities of animal healthcare could prove especially dangerous in times of disease outbreaks. During such events, antimicrobial use may need to temporarily rise in order to contain the spread of illness and prevent long-term damage to herds. Imposing fixed reduction targets, without allowing for flexibility in times of need, fails to account for these critical scenarios. Instead of blanket restrictions, efforts to curb AMR should focus on refining disease prevention strategies, reinforcing veterinary oversight, and ensuring antibiotics are used judiciously based on scientific evidence.

Decades of experience in the U.S. dairy industry have demonstrated that education is one of the most effective tools in managing antibiotic use. By fostering a culture of best practices, dairy farmers and veterinarians can continue to improve disease prevention and refine treatment protocols. Strong oversight and comprehensive record-keeping ensure accountability, while ongoing advancements in veterinary science help further reduce reliance on antimicrobials.

The United States has made great strides in this area, and its approach serves as a model for balancing AMR reduction with responsible animal care. As the UN General Assembly prepares to debate its AMR declaration this September, policymakers should take note of this progress. The most effective path forward is not one that imposes rigid, arbitrary restrictions, but one that recognizes the importance of risk-based, science-driven decision-making. The current version of the AMR Political Declaration gets that balance right. It acknowledges the need for antimicrobial reduction while ensuring that farmers, veterinarians, and animal health professionals retain the tools necessary to provide proper care.

The fight against antimicrobial resistance is essential to protecting public health. But it must be fought with intelligence, not with blunt policy instruments that do more harm than good. AMR reduction and animal welfare are not mutually exclusive goals. By following science, reinforcing responsible antibiotic use, and promoting education, the global community can tackle this challenge without compromising the well-being of animals or the stability of the food supply. The United States has already shown that this approach works. Now, the world must follow suit.