What we do
Our farm animal welfare specialists take a number of different approaches in order to try to improve the lives of as many farm animals as possible. Some of the main ways in which we work, such as developing welfare standards and commissioning welfare research, are mentioned on the other pages in this section and also in our all about animals area.
Our scientific / technical team takes every opportunity to work with, and positively influence, stakeholders such as the food and farming industries, smallholders, veterinarians, scientists, animal organisations and governments (UK and beyond). They represent us on many influential government, farming industry and scientific research project committees. At meetings they highlight important animal welfare issues, ways of making improvements, and the scientific evidence and practical experience on which our views are based.
We are also consulted on farm animal welfare issues by a range of government bodies and other organisations, and give presentations to a wide cross-section of audiences.
Below are just some examples of our advocacy work during 2010.
Membership of committees and working groups
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra):
- Game bird working group
- Core Stakeholder Group for the Implementation of the EU Broiler Directive into UK
- Pig Experts Live Transport Group
- Ruminant Experts Live Transport Group
- Beak Trimming Action Group
Universities / research institutes:
- University of Newcastle and Scottish Agricultural College: PigSAFE project steering group on alternative farrowing environments for pigs
- AssureWel project laying hen technical group and Project Team
- Duck welfare project technical group
- Scientific research discussion group at Cambridge University on provision of an open water source for farmed ducks
- Bristol University laying hen fitness to travel (funded by Defra) and reducing injurious pecking (funded by Tubney Charitable Trust) project steering group
- Scottish Agricultural College game bird housing project group steering (funded by Defra)
British Pig Executive (BPEX) Pig Health and Welfare Council
Welsh Assembly Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Implementation group
Pork Provenance Management Board
England Cattle and Sheep Health and Welfare Council
European Animal Welfare Platform – Poultry Cluster
Farm Animal Welfare Forum
Beyond Calf Exports Forum
Poultry Welfare Forum
Seal, Aquaculture and Salmon working group
Examples of meetings and events during 2010
- Participated in Defra food labelling workshop
- Met with EU Commissioner John Dalli with other NGOs to urge him to adopt EU-wide mandatory labelling of all animal products with production method
- Co-sponsored and participated in the National Cattle Mobility Event at Reaseheath College
- Several meetings with major retailers to discuss progression of farm animal welfare standards
- Organised and participated in information exchange workshop on pig welfare involving key scientific and food and farming industry representatives
- Met with the Food Standards Agency to discuss various issue relating to monitoring and enforcement of animal welfare rules in slaughterhouses
- Met with the Farm Animal Welfare Council to discuss current and future welfare issues
Responses to consultations included the following
Defra:
- Farm Regulation Task Force
- An amendment to the Mutilations Regulations (permitted procedures) (England) 2007, regarding beak trimming of laying hens
- The welfare of gamebirds reared for sporting purposes
Farm Animal Welfare Council:
- FAWC Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA):
- Electrical waterbath stunning of chickens
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA):
- The welfare of broilers in relation to genetic growth rate
EconWelfare consultation on farm animal welfare
Examples of presentations given during 2010
- Iowa State University on the work of the RSPCA Farm Animals Department
- House of Commons ‘Pig Business’ event on pig welfare and pig meat labelling
- Harper Adams University College on farm animal welfare and the work of the RSPCA
