letter to the Times today

[Exfarmer]

It was nice to read a very good letter from a young student in Nottingham today regarding livestock management. Well done to Amy Jackson
as published in the Times
Sir, We should surely aspire to higher levels of animal welfare (“Gove plans to pay farmers for being kind to animals”, Feb 20). However, a chicken on a piece of grass or a cow with wind ruffling its hair does not necessarily make “good welfare”. Methods of production that involve animals being outside can provide opportunities for improved behavioural welfare but this should not be at the expense of significantly higher risk of disease, mortality or distress from exposure to the elements. In those situations we may need to find other ways to ensure animals have the enrichment they need. Of course we should be able to buy meat, milk and eggs from animals that have been outside if that makes us feel good, but this cannot be conflated with good welfare, which must be determined on a different scale.
Amy Jackson
PhD student, School of Veterinary Medicine & Science, University of Nottingham

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

Well said

 

[blacksheepcontracting]

About time the question of animal welfare was widened. Especially where the masses are concerned

 

[Tim W]

Conversley------

Sir, We should surely aspire to higher levels of animal welfare (“Gove plans to pay farmers for being kind to animals”, Feb 20). However, a chicken in a warm cage or a cow with concrete under it's feet rather than mud does not necessarily make “good welfare”. Methods of production that involve animals being inside can provide opportunities for improved welfare but this should not be at the expense of significantly higher risk of disease, mortality or distress . In those situations we may need to find other ways to ensure animals have the enrichment they need. Of course we should be able to buy meat, milk and eggs from animals that have been inside if that makes us feel good and if it is cheaper, but this cannot be conflated with good welfare, which must be determined on a different scale.
Tim W
Common sense commentator

 

[blacksheepcontracting]

I visited a free range egg farm and they said the biggest joke in the industry was free range. Hens were happier in enriched cages but it’s about what the consumer want.

There are plenty of sheep farmers who seem to think that bringing in ewes at every opportunity and throwing everything the vet has at them for their various ailments is higher welfare but that’s not what I’d call it.

I’m keen on breeding fitter sheep that are perfectly capable of looking after themselves and I believe that less intervention should equal higher welfare and more profit as well as being a much more ethically sound product for the consumer