Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Welfare Connections

Antibiotic use in livestock is intertwined with animal welfare: high welfare systems reduce disease pressure and antibiotic need, while reducing antibiotic use without welfare improvements can increase suffering.

Key Facts

Global livestock sectors consume more antibiotics than human medicine, with significant variation between regions and production systems.
Routine antibiotic use to prevent disease in overcrowded conditions substitutes for welfare improvements that would reduce disease risk naturally.
Antibiotic resistance emerging from livestock use threatens human medicine globally — reducing use is a One Health priority.
Denmark and the Netherlands have demonstrated that significant antibiotic use reduction is achievable with improved management and welfare standards.
Withdrawal of antibiotics without addressing underlying causes of disease, such as overcrowding and stress, increases animal suffering.

Welfare Considerations

The relationship between antibiotic use and animal welfare is bidirectional. High-welfare systems that reduce stocking density, provide enrichment, and meet animals' natural needs reduce disease pressure and thus antibiotic requirements. Conversely, regulatory pressure to reduce antibiotic use without simultaneous welfare improvements can leave animals suffering from untreated infections. Policy approaches that link antibiotic reduction to welfare improvement standards are the most coherent response to both challenges.

What You Can Do

Choose products from farms with audited low antibiotic use combined with higher welfare standards.
Support the One Health approach to antibiotic resistance that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
Ask your food retailer about their supplier antibiotic use policies and support retailers with strong commitments.
Advocate for policies that link antibiotic use reduction to welfare improvements rather than treating them as separate issues.