Improving pig welfare and reducing antibiotic use are complementary goals. Healthy, well-managed pigs in good environments require fewer antibiotics, while antibiotic reduction programmes incentivise welfare improvements.
High antibiotic use in pig farming is both a welfare symptom and a threat - it indicates underlying health problems and contributes to antibiotic resistance that threatens human medicine. Welfare improvements that reduce disease incidence simultaneously address both concerns, creating aligned incentives for health, welfare, and public health.