4. ANIMAL WELFARE
Good agricultural practices
Good agricultural practice (GAP)
|
Examples of suggested measures to achieve GAP |
Objective/Control measure |
| 4.1 |
Ensure animals are free from thirst, hunger and malnutrition | |
| 4.1.1 |
Provide sufficient feed (forage and/or fodder) and water every day |
| 4.1.2 |
Adjust stocking rates and/or supplementary feeding to ensure adequate water, feed and fodder supply |
| 4.1.3 |
Protect animals from toxic plants and other harmful substances |
| 4.1.4 |
Provide water supplies of good quality that are regularly checked and maintained | |
– Healthy, productive animals
– Appropriate feeding and watering
|
| 4.2 |
Ensure animals are free from discomfort | |
| 4.2.1 |
Design and construct buildings to be free of obstructions and hazards |
| 4.2.2 |
Where relevant, provide adequate space allowances and clean bedding |
| 4.2.3 |
Protect animals from adverse weather conditions and the consequences thereof |
| 4.2.4 |
Provide housed animals with adequate ventilation |
| 4.2.5 |
Provide non-slippery floors | |
– Protection of animals against extreme climate conditions
– Provide a safe environment
|
| 4.3 |
Ensure animals are free from pain, injury and disease | |
| 4.3.1 |
Have an effective herd health management programme in place and inspect animals regularly |
| 4.3.2 |
Protect against lameness |
| 4.3.3 |
Lactating animals should be milked regularly |
| 4.3.4 |
Do not use procedures and practices that cause unnecessary pain |
| 4.3.54 |
Follow appropriate calving and weaning practices |
| 4.3.6 |
Have appropriate procedures for marketing calves |
| 4.3.7 |
When animals have to be killed on-farm, avoid unnecessary pain |
| 4.3.8 |
Avoid poor milking routines as they may injure cattle | |
– Justified and humane actions
– Good sanitary conditions |
| 4.4 |
Ensure animals are free from fear | |
| 4.4.1 |
Provide competent animal husbandry skills and appropriate trainingveterinary chemicals | |
– Absence of ill-treatment
– Security of animals and farmer |
| 4.5 |
Ensure animals can engage in relatively normal patterns of animal behaviour | |
| 4.5.1 |
Have herd management and husbandry procedures that do not unnecessarily compromise social activity | |
– Freedom of movement
– Preserve gregarious behaviour and other behaviours, such as preferred sleeping position |
Fact sheet: Animal WELFARE
In essence, animal welfare is the application of sensible and sensitive animal husbandry practices to the livestock on the farm. Animal welfare is primarily concerned with the well-being of the animal.
In general, consumers perceive high animal welfare standards as an indicator that food is safe, healthy and of high quality. Animal welfare standards have been incorporated into most on-farm food quality and food safety schemes.
Animal welfare codes usually list five basic freedoms that should underpin best farm practice in relation to animal welfare. These five freedoms provide a comprehensive overall concept of animal welfare.
This Fact Sheet describes Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for animal welfare. They are set out to reflect the five basic freedoms:
- Ensure animals are free from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
- Ensure animals are free from discomfort
- Ensure animals are free from pain, injury and disease
- Ensure animals are free from fear
- Ensure animals can engage in relatively normal patterns of animal behaviour
4.1 Ensure animals are free from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
4.1.1 Provide sufficient feed (forage and/or fodder) and water every day
When feeding animals, they should be given sufficient feed, based on their physiological needs (according to age, body weight, stage of lactation, production level, growth, pregnancy, activity and climate). The quality of the feed needs to be considered. If animals are on poor quality pasture, additional forage may be required to meet the animals’ needs.
Consider the quality and nutrient content of fresh or preserved forage according to the animals’ needs. Animals should be fed a balanced diet (including sufficient fibre).
Animals should have access to clean water.
4.1.2 Adjust stocking rates and/or supplementary feeding to ensure adequate water, feed and fodder supply
Due consideration should be given to the number of animals, physiological needs and nutrient quality of feeds when determining stocking rates, and all animals should have access to sufficient daily water.
4.1.3 Protect animals from toxic plants and other harmful substances
Protect animals from access to toxic plants. Do not feed animals mouldy feeds.
Store chemicals securely to avoid contamination of pastures, and observe proper withholding periods for pasture and forage treatments.
4.1.4 Provide water supplies of good quality that are regularly checked and maintained
Cattle should have free access to a clean fresh water supply. Regularly clean water troughs or drinkers and inspect them to ensure they are fully functional. The water supply should be adequate to meet peak animal requirements, that is drinkers should fill sufficiently quickly to avoid any animals in a group remaining thirsty. All reasonable steps should be taken to minimize the risks of the water supply freezing or overheating, as appropriate.
Runoff from effluent and chemical treatments of pasture and forage crops should not enter stock water supplies.
4.2 Ensure animals are free from discomfort
4.2.1 Design and construct buildings to be free of obstructions and hazards
Consideration should be given to the free flow of animals when designing and building animal housing and/or milking sheds. Avoid dead ends, and steep and slippery pathways.
4.2.2 Where relevant, provide adequate space allowances and clean bedding
Avoid overcrowding of animals, even for short periods. Animals should have clean bedding, whether this is through straw (or equivalent) bedding or clean pastures.
4.2.3 Protect animals from adverse weather conditions and the consequences thereof
As far as practicable, protect animals from adverse weather conditions and the consequences thereof. This includes such stress factors as weather extremes, forage shortages, unseasonal change and others causing cold or heat stress. Consider shade or alternative means of cooling (for example misters and sprays), shelter (for example windbreaks) and additional fodder. Have plans for protection against natural disasters, for example fire, drought, snow, flood;include provision of high ground in case of flood, provide adequate firebreaks and have evacuation provisions.
4.2.4 Provide housed animals with adequate ventilation
All animal housing should be adequately ventilated allowing sufficient supply of fresh air to remove humidity, allow heat dissipation and prevent build-up of gases such as carbon dioxide, ammonia or slurry gases.
4.2.5 Provide non-slippery floors
Floors should be constructed to minimize slipping and bruising due to rough uneven floors. Unsuitable floors may inhibit mounting or lead to injuries during mating.
4.3 Ensure animals are free from pain, injury and disease
4.3.1 Have an effective herd health management programme in place and inspect animals regularly
Animals should be regularly checked to detect injury and/or disease. See the Animal Health Fact Sheet for further details.
4.3.2 Protect against lameness
Laneways, yards, milking stalls and housing should be constructed to minimize the incidence of lameness. Cows should be fed to minimize lameness. Lameness should be investigated to determine underlying causes and treated appropriately.
4.3.3 Lactating animals should be milked regularly
Establish a regular milking routine that recognizes the stage of lactation and does not overly stress the animals.
4.3.4 Do not use procedures and processes that cause unnecessary pain
People carrying out veterinary related tasks should be able to demonstrate competency, especially for procedures that could cause suffering for example disbudding/dehorning, castration, etc. Adhere to national regulations with respect to these and other practices (such as hot branding, tail docking, amputations, etc). Good hygiene is essential for surgical-type procedures. Consider alternative animal husbandry practices if appropriate.
4.3.5 Follow appropriate calving and weaning practices
Develop an appropriate calving plan that considers such issues as choice of bull (for ease of calving); safe calving facilities; and regular checking of animals to ensure prompt, experienced help if required.
Calves should have access to colostrum soon after birth.
4.3.6 Have appropriate procedures for marketing calves
Newborn calves should not be offered for sale until sufficiently hardy (for example adequate body weight and dry navel). Appropriate transport conditions should also be followed. Follow national regulations, if applicable.
4.3.7 When animals have to be killed on-farm, avoid unnecessary pain
When it is necessary to kill sick or diseased animals, or those in pain, it should be done in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary pain.
4.3.8 Avoid poor milking practices as they may injure cattle
Poor milking practices can affect cow well-being and production. Milking equipment should be well maintained and regularly serviced.
4.4 Ensure animals are free from fear
4.4.1 Provide competent animal husbandry skills and appropriate training
Good animal husbandry is a key factor in animal welfare. Without competent, diligent care of animals their welfare will be compromised.
A competent operator should be able to:
- recognize whether or not the animals are in good health;
- understand the significance of a change in the behaviour of the animals;
- know when veterinary treatment is required;
- implement a planned herd health management programme (for example preventive treatments or vaccination programmes if necessary);
- implement appropriate animal feeding and grassland management programmes;
- recognize if the general environment (indoors or outdoors) is adequate to promote good health and welfare;
- have management skills appropriate to the scale and technical requirements of the production system; and
- handle animals compassionately and in an appropriate manner, anticipate potential problems and take the necessary preventive action.
Operators should be familiar with and comply with all relevant national regulations and key industry standards/assurance schemes relating to product quality/safety, etc. Operators should ensure records are maintained to demonstrate compliance with regulations or assurance schemes. People already involved in animal management/husbandry should keep themselves updated on technological developments that can prevent or correct welfare problem
4.5 Ensure animals can engage in relatively normal patterns of animal behaviour
4.5.1 Have herd management and husbandry procedures that do not unnecessarily compromise social activity
Cattle are gregarious animals. Use herd management and husbandry procedures that do not unnecessarily compromise social activity, for example sleeping positions or mating. This also means sufficient space should be provided.
During the daily inspection(s) of animals, check for any abnormal behaviour.
Ensure each animal has adequate space to feed appropriately and actually is feeding. Failure by an animal to feed may be an early indication of illness.
Stock bulls should be managed and handled in a manner that promotes good temperament. |