Innovating on welfare: An added value?

Abstract

The concern for animal welfare is based on the belief that animals can suffer, and has become a major element in consumer perception of food quality. In Europe, legislation has been the commonest way of protecting the welfare of farm animals, ensuring that animals do not endure avoidable pain, distress or suffering and obliging the owner or any others who deal with animals to respect minimum welfare requirements. However, growing consumer demand for more ethical food production has meant that the welfare of farm animals is emerging as an area of potential added value for producers, retailers and other actors in the food chain. The Welfare Quality® project (www.welfarequality.net) aims to develop scientifically based tools to measure animal welfare, to convert these measures into accessible and understandable information, and to improve animal welfare through species-specific strategies. The project is based on the assessment of 12 welfare principles grouped under four main criteria (good feeding, good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour) according to how they are experienced by animals. The data obtained from the measures are combined in an overall assessment. At the end of the process, farms can be categorised according to the assessed level of welfare of their animals. The welfare assessment system could help stakeholders to certify farms and specify their markets, e.g. enhanced farms for a general quality label or excellent farms for a niche market. It can also provide farmers with a broad picture of the welfare status of their animals as well as identifying aspects requiring their attention.