Welfare Science

Pig Welfare and Antibiotic Stewardship

Responsible antibiotic stewardship in pig production protects both individual animal welfare and the public health value of antibiotics.

Key Facts

Antibiotics save animal lives when used appropriately for sick animals
Prophylactic and metaphylactic use to compensate for poor welfare masks welfare problems
The UK livestock sector reduced antibiotic use by 55% between 2014 and 2023
RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) targets guide reduction while maintaining animal health
Welfare improvement and antibiotic reduction are complementary rather than competing goals

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship done well is welfare-positive - it requires investing in prevention through good housing, nutrition, and management rather than treating the consequences of poor welfare with medication. The goal is healthy animals needing fewer antibiotics, not sick animals denied treatment.

What You Can Do

Support producers demonstrating both welfare improvement and antibiotic reduction
Advocate for One Health approaches integrating welfare and AMR in farm policy
Choose animal products from farms with transparent antibiotic use and welfare reporting