Dutch animal agriculture and health

– The livestock sector in The Netherlands is responsible for 4% of the total human disease burden that is related to air pollution.

– There is an increased risk in pneumonia for humans in close proximity to Dutch goat farms. However, a relationship between asthma and livestock farming is uncertain.

– Odor annoyance comes particularly from pig farms and is observed by approximately 2.5% of the Dutch population.

– Zoonoses, diseases transmitted from (livestock) animals to humans – such as bird flu -, can have serious consequences for public health.

– There is evidence for a link between the use of antibiotics in livestock and resistance against antibiotics among humans.