Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Antibiotic Stewardship and Welfare Progress

Antibiotic stewardship programmes in pig farming have achieved significant reductions in antibiotic use in many countries while maintaining or improving welfare and health outcomes.

Key Facts

UK pig sector antibiotic use has fallen by over 50% since 2014
Colistin, a critically important antibiotic, has been largely eliminated from pig use in Europe
Zinc oxide, used as an alternative to antibiotics post-weaning, has been banned in the EU
Alternatives to antibiotic growth promotion include probiotics, prebiotics and feed management
Countries with robust stewardship programmes demonstrate welfare and health can be maintained

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic stewardship in pig farming has demonstrated that reduced antibiotic use and good welfare are compatible goals. The substantial reductions achieved in many countries have not led to widespread health deterioration, instead driving investment in prevention through vaccination, housing improvement and management. This demonstrates that the industry can adapt to responsible use requirements without compromising pig welfare.

What You Can Do

Support antibiotic stewardship organisations working in livestock agriculture
Advocate for national antibiotic use targets and monitoring in pig farming
Choose pork from countries and farms with strong antibiotic stewardship records