Antibiotic use in cattle has welfare and public health dimensions. Responsible use protects animal welfare while minimizing antimicrobial resistance development.
Antibiotic use in cattle involves genuine welfare trade-offs. When cattle develop bacterial infections, antibiotics are a welfare-positive intervention — treating painful, life-threatening conditions. But routine preventive use masks underlying welfare problems, particularly in overcrowded, stressful conditions. The most welfare-positive approach involves improving housing, stocking density, and stress management to reduce infection incidence, then using antibiotics therapeutically when genuinely needed. This approach protects both animal welfare and antimicrobial efficacy.