Pig Antibiotic Use: Stewardship and Welfare Connections

Reducing antibiotic use in pig farming requires improved welfare conditions that prevent the diseases antibiotics have been masking, making welfare and stewardship inextricably linked.

Key Facts

Pig farming accounts for approximately 40% of veterinary antibiotic use in many countries
Prophylactic and metaphylactic use is being restricted across the EU as of 2022
Farms that improve welfare conditions typically achieve antibiotic reduction without increased mortality
Respiratory and enteric diseases in pigs are exacerbated by poor ventilation and crowding
Denmark reduced pig antibiotic use by 50% over a decade while maintaining productivity

Welfare Considerations

The antibiotic stewardship movement in pig farming and welfare improvement are deeply interconnected. High antibiotic use often signals underlying welfare problems including overcrowding, poor ventilation, and inadequate nutrition that suppress immune function. Farms that address these root causes reduce disease incidence and antibiotic dependence simultaneously. Progressive producers have demonstrated that welfare-positive systems can maintain or improve productivity while drastically cutting antibiotic use, challenging the false trade-off between welfare and efficiency.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from producers with documented low antibiotic use and high welfare standards
Support government policies restricting prophylactic antibiotic use in livestock
Learn about the connection between farm animal welfare and antibiotic resistance
Advocate for antibiotic use reporting requirements in pork supply chains