Farmwatch will work with the Oxford-based Food Animal Initiative (FAI) to establish model farms in developing countries.

On its working farm FAI has developed reliable and cost effective ways to produce high quality meat and eggs humanely, as audited by Oxford University researchers.

Peter Davies, director general of WSPA explains: "While the European Union slowly legislates to improve conditions for farm animals, intensive factory farming is exploding in the developing world."

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimate that 4 billion mammals and 55 billion poultry are currently farmed every year. "On factory farms these animals are often caged, chained or crammed and forced to grow super-fast, pumped full of antibiotics and pushed to their physical limits in the quest for ever more meat, milk or eggs," adds Peter Davies.

Roland Bonney, director of FAI says: "WSPA has asked us to work with them in developing model farms appropriate to local conditions for chickens, pigs and cows. With these farms we will endeavour to improve animal welfare by providing training, inspiration and guidance to farmers involved in animal husbandry."

As well as establishing model farms the WSPA Farmwatch campaign will:

• Provide ongoing training in humane slaughter and monitor the situation in slaughterhouses and live animal transport
• Raise awareness of conditions in factory farms with consumers
• Monitor and report on the above

WSPA is urging everyone in the world to support the Farmwatch campaign in the following ways:

• Choose only meat, milk and eggs with labels such as 'free range', 'organic', or 'outdoor reared'. These mean that the animals were reared without cages and crates.
• Beware of labelling terms such as 'fresh', 'farm fresh', 'country fresh', or 'farm assured'. These labels mean nothing about animal welfare and the products are produced on a factory farm.
• Urge your local store to stock more free range and organic produce. Use customer comment cards, customer helplines, and other facilities to show that you care about farm animal welfare.
• Sign the WSPA petition asking the UN to make a universal declaration on the welfare of animals at www.animalsmatter.org
• Make a donation to the WSPA Farmwatch campaign at www.wspa-international.org

For more information on the campaign and the model farm visit www.wspafarmwatch.org and www.modelfarmproject.com

ThePoultrySite News Desk