Animal welfare - statement

A publication setting out guidelines for high standards of animal health and welfare is being developed by FCFCG, its members and similar organisations in Europe. The Animal Welfare Guidance booklet will set out the basic rights that all farm livestock deserve, as well as covering issues unique to the city farm environment.

For example, unlike most commercial farms, livestock reared and kept on city farms have contact with large numbers of people, many of whom will have no experience of livestock and may not know how to behave around farm animals. Close monitoring of the stock at all times is therefore of great importance to prevent misuse and/or ill-treatment.

It is important that each city farm's Animal Welfare Policy reflects the farm's own individual circumstances. It is also vital that the policy is constantly developed through ongoing discussions among the city farm's stakeholders, including those who will implement the policy.

The Animal Welfare Guidance booklet will be a useful tool to help stimulate this debate amongst management committees, staff, volunteers, members, users, visitors, advisers, and any commercial farmers with whom a city farm has contact.

FCFCG promotes good practice and helps - through information, advice, access to training and examples of good practice - to raise standards from whatever position is currently practiced on a city farm.

The principles of good animal welfare are:
1. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress.

In acknowledging these freedoms, those at a city farm who care for livestock should practice:
a. Caring, responsible planning and management
b. Skilled, knowledgeable and conscientious stock-keeping
c. Appropriate environmental and welfare design
d. Considerate handling and transportation.

Additional information:

Animal Welfare Act 2006 (in England and Wales with a similar Act in Scotland and additions in relation to Northern Ireland)

The Animal Welfare Act now requires that anyone responsible for an animal/bird will have a legal duty to meet the five basic welfare needs described above. That legal duty will now extend to individuals keeping pets, and city farms will be required to ensure that no animal/bird is sold to anyone under the (proven) age of 16. Although this has been good practice, it is now a legal offence to ignore the age limit (previously set at 12).

Secondary legislation will be introduced to allow for the production of Codes of Practice and introduce new, or upgrade, licenses for premises and activities. Codes of Practice exist for farm livestock and will now be produced for pets, including invertebrates.

For further information:

www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill (England, with specific clauses relating to changes in Northern Ireland)
www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2006/20060011.htm (Scotland)

Updated: September 2007