Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Animal Welfare

Overuse of antibiotics in livestock to compensate for poor welfare conditions contributes to antimicrobial resistance, while reducing welfare problems reduces antibiotic dependency.

Key Facts

Approximately 73% of global antibiotic use occurs in food animals, though this proportion is declining in many countries
Prophylactic antibiotic use — treating animals before they are sick — is banned in the EU but continues elsewhere
Better welfare conditions including lower stocking density, enrichment, and outdoor access reduce disease incidence and antibiotic need
Antimicrobial resistance is projected to kill 10 million people annually by 2050 if unchecked
The WHO classifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global public health threats

Welfare Considerations

The link between poor welfare and antibiotic use is well-established: stressed, crowded animals have suppressed immune systems and higher disease rates, requiring more antibiotic intervention. Improving welfare conditions therefore directly reduces antibiotic dependency — creating alignment between animal welfare, public health, and regulatory compliance. Higher-welfare farming is not just better for animals; it is better for people too. Reducing antibiotic use by improving welfare rather than simply banning antibiotics is the most holistic solution.

What You Can Do

Choose meat and dairy from producers who demonstrate low antibiotic use and high welfare standards
Support EU restrictions on prophylactic antibiotic use and advocate for similar rules globally
Advocate for antibiotic use reporting as a mandatory component of farm assurance schemes
Engage with the interconnection between animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance in your advocacy
Support research into non-antibiotic disease prevention strategies in livestock production