Farm Animals

Pig Antibiotic Stewardship and Welfare

Reducing antibiotic use in pig production requires welfare-focused disease prevention, and these goals are mutually reinforcing rather than in conflict.

Key Facts

Dutch pig production reduced antibiotic use by 65% in 10 years through welfare-focused management
Key interventions included group housing, enrichment, later weaning and improved ventilation
Reducing disease burden directly reduces antibiotic need without compromising animal welfare
RUMA guidelines in the UK set targets for antibiotic reduction across all livestock sectors
Highest-priority critically important antibiotics are now restricted from prophylactic use in the EU

Welfare Considerations

Pig antibiotic stewardship and welfare improvement are aligned objectives. Investment in welfare prevents disease that drives antibiotic use, benefiting public health and animals simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support pork from farms with documented antibiotic stewardship programmes
Advocate for welfare-based disease prevention over prophylactic antibiotic use
Ask retailers about antibiotic use data disclosure in their pig supply chains