Responsible antibiotic use in cattle farming protects both individual animal welfare and public health by preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Antibiotic stewardship in cattle farming requires balancing two welfare considerations: reducing inappropriate antibiotic use to combat resistance, while ensuring sick animals receive necessary treatment. The welfare failure occurs when certification schemes incentivize withholding treatment from genuinely ill animals to maintain antibiotic-free status. Best practice involves treating sick animals as needed while using preventive management strategies including vaccination, improved housing, reduced stocking density, and enhanced nutrition to lower disease incidence and antibiotic need.