Antibiotic Use and Livestock Welfare

Antibiotic use in livestock is both a public health concern and a welfare issue, with the reduction of preventive antibiotics changing how farm animal health is managed.

Key Facts

The UK reduced antibiotic use in livestock by 40% between 2014 and 2020
Preventive antibiotic use masked poor welfare conditions that now require direct improvement
The Netherlands reduced livestock antibiotic use by 73% without reducing animal health
Antibiotic-resistant infections caused by livestock antibiotic use pose risks to human health
Farm antibiotic use is now regulated under UK and EU legislation

Welfare Considerations

The reduction of preventive antibiotics has revealed underlying welfare problems in intensive systems that were previously suppressed by medication. Systems that relied on antibiotics to control respiratory and gastrointestinal disease must now address the root causes — crowding, ventilation, nutrition, and stress. This represents a potentially positive welfare development if farmers invest in the underlying management improvements rather than simply reducing antibiotic use while maintaining inadequate conditions.

What You Can Do

Support policies that reduce preventive antibiotic use while improving welfare conditions
Choose higher welfare pork and poultry that reflects improved disease management
Advocate for transparency in antibiotic use reporting by producers
Back veterinary guidance on responsible antibiotic use in livestock
Support One Health approaches that link human and animal health in antibiotic policy