Antibiotic Stewardship in Livestock Welfare

Responsible antibiotic use in farm animals is both a human health imperative and a welfare issue — sick animals must receive effective treatment.

Key Facts

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens to render antibiotics ineffective for treating bacterial infections in both humans and animals.
The UK has reduced veterinary antibiotic use by 55% between 2014 and 2020 through voluntary and regulatory measures.
The highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HPCIAs) including fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins are now tightly restricted in EU livestock.
Prophylactic and metaphylactic use is being restricted; treatment-based use with prescription requirement is standard.
Higher welfare systems — better housing, less stress, higher health status — reduce the need for antibiotic treatment.

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship creates a welfare tension: reducing antibiotic use is necessary for the long-term effectiveness of medicine, but individual animals in pain or distress from bacterial infections require effective treatment now. Responsible stewardship means using the most appropriate (not always the broadest-spectrum) antibiotic, at the right dose and duration, for confirmed or strongly suspected bacterial infections. Animals must not be allowed to suffer from untreated bacterial disease in the name of antibiotic conservation; the goal is targeted, judicious use — not avoidance of treatment where it is clinically indicated.

What You Can Do

Work with your vet to establish written antibiotic protocols for your farm based on current best practice.
Invest in herd and flock health measures that reduce disease incidence and antibiotic need.
Never use antibiotics without veterinary prescription or in the absence of evidence of bacterial disease.
Support research into alternatives to antibiotics including vaccines, probiotics, and breeding for disease resistance.