Frequently asked questions
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`Intensive' farming and the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Farms that ‘intensively’ rear animals must ensure that the needs of the farm animals are met. The Animal Welfare Act, however, specifies certain matters to which the courts are required to take into account when considering a complaint of breach of this ‘duty of care’. This includes any lawful purpose for which the animal is kept (e.g., farming), and any lawful activity undertaken in relation to the animal (e.g., set out in legislation or codes of practice). This provision does not provide farmers with an absolute defence, but sets the ‘duty of care’ in the context of recognised farming practices.
The RSPCA actively campaigns for changes in the law relating to ‘intensive’ farming which it believes can lead to poor farm animal welfare e.g. the use of ‘intensive’ close-confinement systems such as battery cages used to keep some laying hens and animal transport laws. Information about the RSPCA’s work in relation to farm animals is available in our All About Animals area of the website.
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