Livestock

Reducing Antibiotic Use in Cattle: Welfare and Public Health

Reducing antibiotic use in cattle production requires addressing the welfare problems that drive antibiotic demand, making welfare improvement and antibiotic stewardship complementary goals.

Key Facts

UK cattle antibiotic use has declined by 50% since 2014 following industry stewardship programmes
The majority of antibiotic use in cattle is for treatment rather than growth promotion since the EU ban
Improving housing, nutrition and herd health management reduces disease incidence reducing antibiotic need
Antibiotic resistance is a public health threat linked to agricultural antibiotic use globally

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship in cattle production is most effectively achieved through welfare improvement that reduces disease incidence rather than simply withholding treatment from sick animals. Farms that focus on disease prevention through good husbandry consistently achieve lower antibiotic usage without welfare compromise. The welfare and public health goals are aligned in high-quality farming systems.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance schemes that require veterinary health plans and antibiotic recording
Choose beef and dairy products from producers demonstrating responsible antibiotic use
Advocate for global standards on antibiotic growth promoter prohibition in livestock production
Support research into vaccination programmes and management approaches that reduce infectious disease in cattle