consuming livestock: food security, climate change ... · intensive vs. extensive debate • high...

World Society for the Protection of Animals

Consuming livestock: food security,climate change, livelihoods and animal

welfare

Basia Romanowicz


About WSPA

• International organisation working to improveanimal welfare globally

• Priority areas: humane & sustainableagriculture, disaster management, inhumaneculling

• Humane slaughter programme in China• Engagement in food policy, climate change and

food safety and security debate


contents

• The vital role of farming and animals• Trends and impacts• Why welfare really counts• Solutions for producers• Solutions for consumers• Achieving change

1. Vital role of livestock2. Trends in livestock production3. Implications for animal welfare4. Why welfare really counts5. Trends in consumer behaviour


• 500 million smallholder farmersproduce 80% of food consumed inthe developing world

• 1 billion people depend onlivestock for food, income,transport, status etc

• Importance in developed countries(protein, employment, landscapes& culture)

Importance of agriculture and livestock


Livestock intensification

• 60 billion animals worldwide

• Estimated that animalproduction needs to double by2050

• Major growth in industrialsystems

• Whatʼs the globalenvironmental, health andeconomic impact


Current livestock impacts – all set toincrease• Climate change - 18% global GHG• Land use – >30% of crops fed to livestock• Health – 75% of new diseases• Environment – 7% water use• Biodiversity - 23 out of 35 biodiversity hotspots

at risk


What is needed for good welfare?The 5 Freedoms:Freedom:• from hunger and thirst• from pain, injury and disease• from fear and distress• from discomfort• to express normal behaviour

Good welfare depends on:• Genetics• Environment• Disease control• Nutrition• Management and stockmanship

Welfare can be bad in any system if management is poor..


Sows in farrowing cratescannot:

•Turn round•Lie down comfortably•Perform natural behaviours•Interact naturally withpiglets

Growings pigs:•Little space•Barren environment•Tail docked

Copyright:CIWF


Laying hens• In battery cages, hens cannot perform

important natural behaviours such as dustbathing, scratching for food or even stretchtheir wings

Copyright:CIWF


Broiler chickens• Bred for fast growth• High levels of lameness and poor health• Lack of space and poor environment


Higher welfare systems: Pigs

Free-rangesystem

Indoor bedded pigsystem

Copyright: CIWF


Higher welfare systems: Hens

Hens dust-bathing

Free-rangesystems


Higher welfare systems: broilers

RSPCA higher welfare indoorsystem:•Slower growing birds•Lower stocking density

Free-rangesystems

Copyright:CIWF


Sustainability and animal welfare:why welfare really counts

Ecology

Economics Ethics

Welfare centred production systems are central tosustainability – the ʻwin win winʼ scenario.


Creating humane sustainableproduction

• Integrate crop and animalfarming, boost nutrientrecycling, lower importedfeed

• Lower stocking densities• Greater resilience• Marketing chains that create

value along the chain• Use of livestock breeds

suitable for local conditionse.g Beijing Oil chicken


Beijing Oil chicken•• Dual purpose breed (eggs and meat)Dual purpose breed (eggs and meat)•• Free-range systemFree-range system•• Commercial scale: 1% BeijingCommercial scale: 1% Beijingʼ̓s eggss eggs

Copyright:CIWF


Case for high welfare & sustainableproduction

High input/output: animal welfareand productivity impacts

Improving health and welfare canreduce costs and raise profits

Improving health & welfare can alsoreduce environmental impact

Carbon sequestration fromgrassland


Mitigation measures proposed

• Reducing consumption of meat and dairy• Carbon sequestration• Renewable energy• Changes to animal feeding• Changes to animal breeding

• Measures should be assessed for animal welfareimpacts


Intensive vs. extensive debate

• High welfare farming can have environmentalbenefits

• But not in every sense e.g slow growing chicken= more carbon

• Need to consider all environmental and socialimpacts (pollution, water use, biodiversity,animal welfare etc.)


Consumer trends in UK & Europe

• High interest in ʻgreenʼ and high welfare food• Animal welfare top ethical consideration in UK

(ahead of carbon impact) (Mintel, 2010)• Main consumer concerns: health, food safety,

quality, price, ethical issues• A number of drivers for choosing welfare e.g

Hellmans mayonnaise

World Society for the Protection of AnimalsConsumer demand for cage-free eggs

Source: Agra CEAS (2006)


China: A universal concern for farm animalwelfare

How important is the treatment of farm animalsin our country for you personally?

0

10

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30

40

50

60

70

80

CHINA BRAZIL EUROPE

Very/fairlyNot very/not at all


China: A universal demand from citizens formore information

Would you like to be informed about the conditionsIn which animals are farmed in our country?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

CHINA BRAZIL EUROPE

Great deal/fair amountNot much/not at all


Future trends

• Chinese consumers purchasing more ʻgreenʼ andorganic products

• Consumer concerns about food safety• Important role of food companies• Rise in demand and availability of higher welfare food• What will be the trade-offs between animal welfare and

environment?


Conclusions

• Animal welfare key element of sustainable farming• Animal welfare needs to be included in environmental

policy• Measures to reduce impacts should be assessed for

welfare impacts• Manage unsustainable demand for animal products• Research and development to support humane &

sustainable agriculture


Thank You

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