Antibiotic Use in Livestock: Welfare and Resistance

Responsible antibiotic use in livestock protects individual animal welfare while preserving antibiotic effectiveness for humans and animals; the relationship between welfare and antibiotic use is more complex than often portrayed.

Key Facts

High-welfare farm systems consistently use fewer antibiotics than lower-welfare equivalents
Preventing disease through good welfare management reduces the need for antibiotic treatment
UK veterinary antibiotic use in food animals has declined significantly since 2014 peak
Welfare problems including disease and injury require treatment — restriction must not compromise welfare

Welfare Considerations

The relationship between animal welfare and antibiotic use is complex: poor welfare drives disease that requires treatment, but denial of treatment to suffering animals in the name of antibiotic stewardship is itself a welfare harm. The correct response is improving welfare to reduce disease occurrence — reducing the need for antibiotics — while ensuring that genuinely sick animals receive necessary treatment. High-welfare production systems demonstrate that both goals are achievable through management investment rather than requiring welfare compromise for stewardship.

What You Can Do

Support high-welfare farming systems that use management to reduce antibiotic need
Advocate against policies that restrict antibiotic access without addressing underlying welfare conditions
Raise awareness that antibiotic stewardship and animal welfare are aligned goals achieved through good farming