The US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has released an updated report describing how antibiotics are used on US poultry farms. The report shows continued progress in reducing antibiotic use across broiler chicken, turkey and egg-laying hen operations, while also recognizing that antibiotics remain an important tool for protecting bird health when disease occurs.

For many years, the poultry industry has focused on responsible antibiotic use as part of its commitment to animal health, food safety and sustainability. Antibiotics considered “medically important” to human health are used carefully, only when necessary, and under veterinary oversight. The updated findings highlight long-term reductions in antibiotic use, as well as the challenges producers face when responding to disease outbreaks.

The research was led by Dr. Randall Singer, DVM, Ph.D., of Mindwalk Consulting Group, LLC and the University of Minnesota. The report includes 12 years of data, from 2013 to 2024, for broiler chickens and turkeys, and nine years of data, from 2016 to 2024, for layer hens. Because broilers, turkeys and layers differ in life span, size, disease risk and available treatments, the report emphasizes that antibiotic use data should not be combined or compared across poultry types.

Importantly, the data in this report were collected directly from poultry companies, including veterinarians and live production personnel. This approach provides a practical, real-world picture of how much antibiotic product is used on farms and under what circumstances. These on-farm data also provide critical context to the FDA’s annual antibiotic sales reports, which reflect only the volume of product sold, not how or whether those products are ultimately used. By capturing actual on-farm use, the USPOULTRY survey helps bridge the gap between sales data and real-world antibiotic use.

For broiler chickens, the data shows substantial reductions in antibiotic use over time. Hatchery antibiotic use declined from 90% of broilers in 2013 to less than 1% in 2024. Medically important antibiotics delivered through feed have largely been eliminated, including the complete phase-out of in-feed tetracycline since 2019. While water-soluble antibiotic use decreased significantly earlier in the study period, modest increases since 2019 have been linked to higher disease pressure, including secondary bacterial infections following avian metapneumovirus outbreaks.

Turkey production shows a similar overall trend. Hatchery antibiotic use declined, though recent disease challenges required targeted treatments to protect young poults. In-feed and water-soluble antibiotic use decreased significantly over the long term, with some recent increases tied to disease outbreaks (i.e. aMPV) and limited treatment alternatives.

Antibiotic use in egg-laying hens remains very low. Because hens produce eggs daily and most antibiotics require withdrawal periods that would prevent eggs from entering the food supply, antibiotic use in table egg production is minimal. Less than 0.1% of total hen-days were exposed to the primary antibiotic used, chlortetracycline, which can be administered in feed without requiring egg withdrawal.

USPOULTRY will continue to support annual data collection to monitor antibiotic use trends, improve stewardship practices and better document disease challenges in poultry flocks. This ongoing effort, supported through USPOULTRY and public-private partnerships with the FDA, reflects a continued commitment to transparency, science-based decision-making and responsible poultry production.

By Dr. Denise Heard is vice president for research programs for USPOULTRY.