The overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming is a major driver of antibiotic resistance - one of the greatest public health threats of our time. Improving animal welfare directly reduces antibiotic dependence.
The antibiotic resistance crisis and the farm animal welfare crisis are two faces of the same problem. Antibiotics are required in high volumes because intensive farming systems create conditions - stress, crowding, poor air quality - that predispose animals to disease. These are not natural disease risks but iatrogenic ones created by production system choices. Improving welfare improves animal health, reduces disease incidence, and directly reduces antibiotic dependence. This creates a rare alignment between animal welfare interests and public health interests that advocates can and should leverage in policy debates. Better welfare is not just good for animals - it may be essential for preserving the antibiotics that save human lives.