Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received advice concerning animal welfare issues associated with intensive dairy farming that do not occur in traditional pasture-based dairy farming; and, if so, what was that advice.[HL487]
Answer
All operational livestock farms must comply with all relevant legislation, including comprehensive environmental and animal welfare legislation. In respect of the environmental impact of such facilities, the Environment Agency is a statutory consultee on all such developments. They will assess the local environmental risks of such applications and act where appropriate.
The Farm Animal Welfare Council’s (now Committee) (FAWC) scientific advice makes clear that the most important influence on the welfare of farm animals in any livestock production system is the knowledge, skills and experience of the stockmen. It is important to recognise that poor welfare may occur in both small and large scale units and in both intensive and extensive systems. The FAWC membership consists of a wide range of experts including economists, veterinary surgeons, academics, animal welfare scientists and farmers, as well as an ethicist, food scientist and geneticist. Their reports draw on not only their own expertise, but also the work and experience of other experts in the particular field as necessary.
In 2009 the FAWC Opinion on the Welfare of the Dairy Cow concluded that cows kept in very large units and/or housed all year can have a satisfactory standard of welfare and that there appear to be few disadvantages to the cow in this case. This report was produced in consultation with the British dairy industry, veterinary associations, universities and agricultural colleges, animal welfare organisations and private
veterinarians and academics. However, FAWC’s conclusion is subject to further research on a cow’s ability to express “normal behaviour” in housed systems. The department has funded a project entitled “AW1026: A study to investigate the management and welfare of continuously housed dairy cows”. with this in mind. The study will be published later this year.