Antibiotic use in pig production is closely linked to welfare: farms with poor welfare conditions require more antibiotics to manage disease, while farms with good welfare practices typically achieve antibiotic reduction targets more easily. Welfare improvement and antimicrobial stewardship are complementary goals.
Antibiotic overuse in pig farming both reflects poor welfare conditions and contributes to antimicrobial resistance that threatens both animal and human health. Farms relying heavily on antibiotics to manage weaner mortality or respiratory disease are typically addressing welfare failures — insufficient enrichment, excess stocking density, poor ventilation, or inadequate nutrition — with pharmaceutical solutions rather than husbandry improvement. Welfare-focused farms that invest in better housing, enrichment, and management consistently reduce antibiotic requirements. The link between welfare and antibiotic reduction creates alignment between farmers, vets, retailers, and regulators: improving pig welfare is also a public health intervention.