Safeguarding and improving animal welfare Harry Blokhuis Department
Safeguarding and improving animal welfare Harry Blokhuis Department of Animal Environment and Health Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Safeguarding and improving animal welfare - Why? Who/what are the drivers in the food chain? - Components in safeguarding and improving welfare - Points for discussion
’Drivers’ in the food chain Consumers Public concerns Retail Legislators Safeguard and improve Animal Welfare Farmers
Drivers in the food chain • Public concerns
Public concerns • To inform general public How important is farm animal welfare for you? Unni Kjaernes, Mara Miele and Joek Roex (eds) (2007)
Public concerns Many public concerns get scientific support (c. f. EFSA scientific reports) E. g. - barren environment - high stocking densities - lighting conditions - air quality - transport - mutilations
Public concerns Top concerns in Member States (SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER 354 (2010) Food-related risks)
Public concerns Would you like to be public more informed about the conditions under • To inform general which animals are farmed in your country? (SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER 354 (2010) Food-related risks)
Drivers in the food chain • Public concerns • Retail
Retail • In quality food chains and markets, animal welfare is increasingly an important attribute of an overall conception of food quality: business opportunity
Retail A large part of animal products (60% of 300) surveyed in the 10 most popular retailing outlets of each of the six EU countries (UK, Italy, NO, France, NL, SW) were communicating to consumers some aspects of farm animals’ lives or the production methods adopted. Half of the surveyed products were carrying welfare claims that were not supported by any specific welfare-friendly production standard. In all cases they were bundled with other quality specifications (e. g. better taste, higher safety, environmental friendliness, and so forth).
Retail • In quality food chains and markets, animal welfare is increasingly an important attribute of an overall conception of food quality: business opportunity • Quality insurance, certification and consumer information • Harmonisation of welfare assessment
Drivers in the food chain • Public concerns • Retail • Consumers
Consumers 54% of respondents have difficulties finding proper information on the animal welfare standards applied in producing food EU special barometer on attitudes of EU citizens (March 2007)
Consumers animal welfare is not at the forefront of consumers when shopping for food
Drivers in the food chain • • Public concerns Retail Consumers Farmers
Farmers - Farmers want to take good care of their animals - They recognise the link between good welfare and good economics - welfare – production costs - welfare – market demands
Farmers Farm managers underestimate lameness prevalence Šárová et al. , 2011 Comparison of observed lameness and farmers’ estimation (%)
Farmers Needs: • Tools to support animal welfare management on farm
Farmers Needs: • Tools to support animal welfare management on farm • Since animal welfare is more and more considered as a quality aspect, farmers need a way to demonstrate this quality
Farmers Needs: • Tools to support animal welfare management on farm • Since animal welfare is more and more considered as a quality aspect, farmers need a way to demonstrate this quality • Level playing field (in EU and global)
Drivers in the food chain • • • Public concern Retail Consumers Farmers Legislators
Legislators • ’Translate’ public concerns in legislation (’science based’)
Legislators • ’Translate’ public concerns in legislation (’science based’) • Compliance
Legislators • ’Translate’ public concerns in legislation (’science based’) • Compliance • Harmonisation/level playing field (EU)
’Drivers’ in the food chain
Components in safeguarding and improving welfare 1. Assess animal welfare
Welfare assessment Until now: Mainly resource based
Resource based EU Council Directive 1999/74/EC Enriched cages • From 1 January 2002: - 750 cm 2/hen (600 plus) - nest - litter - 15 cm perch per hen - 12 cm feedtrough per hen - 2 nipple drinkers per cage - claw-shortening devices
Welfare assessment Until now: Mainly resource based ’Conceptual difficulties’
Welfare assessment ? Until now: Mainly resource based ’Conceptual difficulties’
Welfare assessment ? Until now: Mainly resource based ’Conceptual difficulties’
Welfare assessment / ? Until now: Mainly resource based ’Conceptual difficulties’
Welfare assessment Animal based indicators
Welfare assessment Animal based indicators
The Welfare Quality® System
Animal based measures
Animal based measures
Animal based measures
Welfare Quality assessment protocols www. welfarequalitynetwork. net
Welfare assessment Resource based or outcome based? ? ?
Welfare assessment Resource based or outcome based? ? ? A clever combination but outcome parameters should be included
Components in safeguarding and improving welfare 1. Assess animal welfare 2. Feedback and improve
Feedback and improve
Components in safeguarding and improving welfare 1. Assess animal welfare 2. Feedback and improve 3. Legislate
Legislation – Some problems: • Too many details complicated and inflexible • May have different effects under different conditions • Compliance – Possible improvements • • Ban systems/practices clearly detrimental to welfare Harmonise assessment measures and control practices Require on-farm welfare management systems Include role of private schemes
Legislate
Components in safeguarding and improving welfare 1. Assess animal welfare 2. Feedback and improve 3. Legislate 4. Communicate
Communicate
Points for discussion – Welfare assessment measures and information need to be harmonised – Legislation and private schemes should complement each other – Certification schemes should include a welfare improvement component
Thank you for your attention!
- Slides: 51