Animal Welfare and Antibiotic Resistance

The link between livestock welfare and antibiotic use demonstrates that improving welfare can simultaneously reduce antimicrobial resistance risk.

Key Facts

Intensive livestock systems use 80% of global antibiotics in some countries
Welfare improvements reduce disease prevalence reducing antibiotic requirement
Denmark reduced pig antibiotic use 50% while improving production
Antibiotic resistance threatens both animal and human health globally

Welfare Considerations

Stressed, crowded livestock are more susceptible to infectious disease requiring antibiotic treatment. Welfare improvements including better housing, lower stocking density, and enrichment reduce disease incidence reducing antibiotic need. This creates an alignment between welfare and public health: the same interventions that reduce animal suffering also reduce antimicrobial resistance risk. The welfare case for reducing antibiotic use extends beyond individual animals to population health.

What You Can Do

Support farms committed to reducing antibiotic use through welfare improvement
Advocate for welfare-based approaches to antibiotic stewardship
Choose products from farms with low antibiotic use and high welfare standards
Back research into welfare improvement as an antibiotic stewardship tool