Overuse of antibiotics in livestock contributes to antimicrobial resistance while also masking welfare problems. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use while improving animal welfare are complementary goals.
Antibiotic use in livestock is both a symptom and a cause of welfare problems. Antibiotics used routinely to prevent disease that arises from poor housing conditions mask the underlying welfare failure - if animals need constant antibiotics to stay healthy, the conditions are inadequate for their welfare. Conversely, where welfare conditions are good, antibiotic use falls naturally because disease rates fall. The connection between antibiotic stewardship and animal welfare is therefore deeply positive: improving welfare reduces disease, which reduces antibiotic use, which reduces resistance risk. Advocacy for better farming conditions is simultaneously advocacy for animal welfare and public health.