Farm animal Welfare

Question 1

Be aware of current farm animal welfare

issues

Answer 1

Describe the principle legislation protecting

farm animals

Question 2

What is a moral issue regarding farm animals

Answer 2

They are sentient beings, capable of feeling

pain and suffering, learning, memory

Question 3

What are sources of poor welfare

Answer 3

1. cruelty
2. neglect
3. Husbandry systems (intensification, genetics, industry issues)

Question 4

What are farm animal welfare challenges

Answer 4

1. Intensification
2. Disease
3. Economics

Question 5

Intensification issues

Answer 5

1. Increased production
   – associated disease problems
   • metabolic disease in cattle, skeletal problems poultry
2. Increased herd / flock sizes
   – Increase disease risk
   - less individual animal attention
   – Behavioural compromises? Social Issues? Stress? Boredom?
3. Housing/Confinement
   – great reduction in grazing and outdoor production
   – confined systems e.g battery cages, sow stalls
   – Behavioural expression

Question 6

What does the FAWC stand for and what do they say needs to occur to reduce disease

Answer 6

1. Farm animal Welfare Committee
– Preventative medicine and Health Planning 
– Greater involvement of vets 
– Ensure surveillance of disease 
– Improve biosecurity 
– CPD for farmers and workers

Question 7

Economic Issues

Answer 7

1. Lower prices = difficult to invest
2. labour costs/ vet fees/ medicines
3. producing food intensively = cheaper
4. impose higher welfare standards = globally competitive still?

Question 8

What is farm animal legislation on farm

Answer 8

1. Welfare Farmed Animals Regulations 2010
2. Animal Welfare Act 2006
3. Mutilations Permitted Procedures Act 2007

Question 9

What is farm animal legislation in markets, transport and slaughter

Answer 9

1. In Markets = Welfare of Animals in Markets
2. In Transport = Welfare in Transport Regulation EC 1/2005
3. In Slaughter House = Welfare of Animals Slaughter and Killing

Question 10

Who enforces farm animal welfare standards?

Answer 10

1. Primarily DEFRA AND Animal Health and Plant Agency (AHPA)
2. Local Authority Trading Standards
3. Police
   * * Welfare charities e.g. RSPCA = no enforcement power**

Question 11

Welfare issues of laying chickens

Answer 11

1. Brittle bones
2. Feather pecking
3. individual inspection

Question 12

Welfare issue of free range chickens

Answer 12

1. Disease control
2. Predation
3. Group size/ bullying

Question 13

Welfare issue of broiler chickens

Answer 13

1. Boredom
2. Less intensive indoor
3. Free range

Question 14

genreal welfare issues of chicken

Answer 14

1. space allowance
2. skin damage from bedding
3. fast growth - fractures, heart disease

Question 15

welfare issues growing pigs

Answer 15

1. boredom = tail biting = tetnus/ spinal abscess
2. disease problems
3. Mutilations - tooth clipping, castration (port taint), tail docking

Question 16

dairy welfare issues

Answer 16

1. lameness
2. metabolic disease, ketosis, fat mobilisation
3. Access to outside ?
4. Mastitis
5. intensification

Question 17

Sheep welfare

Answer 17

1. main issues come down to poor stockmanship
2. castration (stop breeding)
3. tail docking (fly strike)
4. dystocia management
   nutrition
   lack of vet

Question 18

What are Farm Assurance Schemes?

Answer 18

Voluntary, private sector schemes which provide consumers
with certified, information on the standards of production of
the food they purchase.

Question 19

what are the OIE

Answer 19

1. Fight animal diseases world- wide
   - Notifiable diseases
   – Control measures
   – Standard setting
2. Global improvement of animal welfare
   standards world wide – Recommendations and agreement on welfare
   standards for various systems e.g slaughter,
   transport