Agricultural Antibiotics and Animal Welfare

The relationship between antibiotic use and welfare is bidirectional: poor welfare conditions drive antibiotic use, and restriction of antibiotics requires welfare improvement to maintain health.

Key Facts

The EU banned preventive mass medication without individual diagnosis in 2022
UK antibiotic use in food animals has declined by 55% since 2014 following industry action
Farms that have reduced antibiotic use report improved welfare outcomes from driving condition improvements
Antibiotic-resistant infections now kill 1.3 million people annually globally
Higher-welfare systems consistently use fewer antibiotics — the correlation is strong

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship and animal welfare are structurally linked: systems that rely on antibiotics to prevent disease in poor conditions are treating the symptom while ignoring the cause. When antibiotics are removed without welfare improvement, disease increases and welfare deteriorates further. The sustainable path — demonstrated by UK industry and EU policy — is welfare improvement that reduces disease susceptibility, allowing antibiotic use to fall without welfare cost. The welfare improvement pathway is both the right thing for animals and the solution to antimicrobial resistance.

What You Can Do

Choose animal products from higher-welfare systems with lower antibiotic use
Support continued antibiotic reduction in UK and EU food animal production
Advocate for welfare improvement as the foundation of antibiotic stewardship
Engage with food companies on their antibiotic use and welfare improvement linkage
Support research into welfare-based antibiotic reduction strategies