AssureWel Project Provides Agreed New Measures
UK - Last year, to improve the way Freedom Food checks animal welfare on farms, a new set of animal-based 'welfare outcome' measures were introduced as part of annual assessments – and now a new set of cowbased measures will be introduced during this Summer 2012 to all dairy assessments and monitoring visits.
4 July 2012
1 minute read
To ensure that animal welfare is being improved, it need to be measured. A welfare outcome assessment is a practical and scientifically informed way of measuring welfare, focussed on livestock. It aims to provide an objective, accurate and direct picture of animal welfare.
The measures have been developed as part of the AssureWel project – a joint project between the RSPCA, Soil Association and Bristol University – which aims to develop a system of welfare outcome assessment, to provide accurate measurement and provide a basis for welfare improvements.
"The new set of cow-based 'welfare outcome' measures have also been developed as part of the AssureWel project and include input from the Red Tractor dairy scheme – to ensure standardisation across the industry,” said Anna Fraser, from the RSPCA’s farm animals team.
“The new measures look at key aspects of dairy welfare, including mobility, body condition, lying comfort and response to stockmen."
You can find out more about the AssureWel project at www.assurewel.org
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