The relationship between antibiotic use in livestock, antimicrobial resistance, and animal welfare is complex and critically important for the future of both human and animal health.
The link between antibiotic use and animal welfare runs in both directions. Poor welfare conditions — overcrowding, stress, inadequate nutrition, poor hygiene — increase disease susceptibility and drive antibiotic dependency. Conversely, systems that improve welfare typically see reduced antibiotic use because healthier, less stressed animals resist infection more effectively. The global antimicrobial resistance crisis therefore creates strong additional justification for improving farm animal welfare standards. Transitioning away from routine antibiotic use without addressing underlying welfare problems risks worsening animal suffering and disease burden on farms.