Farm Animals

Cattle Antibiotic Stewardship and Welfare

Responsible antibiotic use in cattle balances animal welfare through effective disease treatment with antimicrobial resistance prevention.

Key Facts

Cattle receive more antibiotics by weight than any other livestock species
Third and fourth generation cephalosporins are restricted to prescription only
Blanket dry cow therapy has been replaced with selective dry cow approaches
Farm health planning links antibiotic use to disease prevention strategies
Welfare and stewardship goals conflict when undertreating reduces resistance but increases suffering

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship must not reduce welfare by undertreating painful infections. The goal is preventive health management reducing disease incidence, so less treatment is needed without more suffering. This requires investment in biosecurity, vaccination and nutrition alongside reduced antibiotic use.

What You Can Do

Support veterinary-led farm health plans combining welfare and stewardship
Advocate for transparent antibiotic use reporting by farms
Buy dairy and beef from farms with documented stewardship programs