Antibiotic use in animal agriculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance threatening human and animal health. Stewardship programs improve welfare while protecting global health.
Antibiotic stewardship and animal welfare are deeply interconnected. The need for therapeutic antibiotics in farming is largely driven by disease conditions rooted in welfare failures — overcrowding, poor ventilation, stress, nutritional deficiency. Reducing antibiotic use without improving welfare simply results in untreated disease and increased animal suffering. True stewardship programs address the welfare root causes of disease rather than just restricting antibiotic access. The Danish experience demonstrates that welfare improvement and antibiotic reduction are achievable together with appropriate investment in housing, management, and veterinary support. Consumers and policymakers who care about antimicrobial resistance should recognize that supporting animal welfare reform is a direct public health intervention.