Plans For Farm Animal Welfare

The RSPCA is looking at new methods of assessing the physical condition and behaviour of farm animals to help farmers on our Freedom Food assurance scheme to ensure the wellbeing of their livestock.

Welfare measurement

Our farm animal scientists have developed a system of measuring the welfare of animals through focusing on key indicators of their health and welfare.

These welfare measurement systems for dairy cattle, laying hens and pigs are already being trialled on some Freedom Food farms and could be in place on other farms on the scheme early next year.

Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA farm animal department, said: "This is great news for animals, and the RSPCA is very proud that we first commissioned the work on animal welfare outcomes many years ago."

Freedom Food

"Through our Freedom Food scheme the RSPCA has already blazed a trail for farm animal welfare by giving due recognition and in many cases improved marketing opportunities to farmers who keep their animals to higher welfare standards," added Dr Wrathall.

"We are now hoping to use scientific research to add another dimension to the care provided to farm animals which will be unique to the Freedom Food scheme."

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