Livestock Antibiotic Stewardship and Animal Welfare

Antibiotic use in livestock has profound implications for both animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance in human and animal medicine.

Key Facts

Approximately 70% of medically important antibiotics globally are used in food-producing animals
Prophylactic antibiotic use — treating animals that are not sick to prevent disease — has been restricted in the EU since 2022
The primary driver of antibiotic overuse in livestock is poor animal welfare — healthier animals in better conditions require fewer antibiotics
Reducing antibiotics without improving underlying welfare leads to increased disease and suffering
The WHO has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global public health threats

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship and animal welfare are inseparable. The conditions that drive antibiotic dependence — overcrowding, poor ventilation, stress, inadequate biosecurity — are welfare failures. Removing antibiotics without addressing these root causes simply shifts the welfare problem from antibiotic resistance to increased infectious disease. The welfare-first approach to antibiotic stewardship improves both outcomes simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Choose meat products from producers with documented antibiotic reduction programs and improved welfare standards
Support regulatory frameworks requiring antibiotic use justification and veterinary prescription for all livestock antibiotics
Reduce consumption of animal products from high-intensity systems dependent on routine antibiotic use
Advocate for investment in welfare improvements that reduce antibiotic dependence rather than restrictions alone