Welfare ComparisonJustine O’Malley

Project Introduction• Compilation of 11 associations and their welfare

standards

• Compares 37 different welfare characteristics

• Uses management based versus animal based methods for calculating welfare

– Management based (input): American Humane Association & Global Animal Partnership

– Animal based (outcome): OIE cattle & EU Welfare Quality

Associations

Animal Welfare Institute Niman Ranch American Humane

Association Humane Farm Animal

Care Global Animal

Partnership Organic

Red Tractor Royal Society for

the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

OIE (cattle & broilers)

EU Welfare Quality PQA Plus

CharacteristicsAnimal

•Boar housing•Castration•Electric prods•Euthanasia•Farrowing•Genetics •Handling•Health

•Identification•Nose ringing•Slaughter•Space•Tail docking•Teeth clipping•Transport•Tusk removal•Weaning

CharacteristicsFacilities

•Air quality•Bedding•Emergency system•Environment•Environmental enrichment•Feeding schedule•Food & water

•Housing & facilities•Isolation•Lighting•Outdoor access•Prohibited substances•Vermin•Water system

CharacteristicsRecords

•Certified health status•Certified status•Emergency plans•Health plan•Records •Training program

American Humane Association Developed in 1877 Protecting children and animals from abuse and neglect Provide research, education, and training MISSION: To create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals.

American Humane Association Certification

American Humane Certified standards which were built upon the Five Freedoms

Five Freedoms:1. Freedom from hunger

and thirst2. Freedom from

discomfort3. Freedom from pain,

injury, or disease4. Freedom to express

normal behavior5. Freedom from fear and

distress

and a science-based aspect Promotes a safer and higher quality food supply

PQA vs. AHAAHA

Lying Area/FloorsSpace AllowancesFarrowing SystemsEnvironmental EnrichmentLightingOutdoor HousingHealth Plan & RecordsEuthanasia & Casualty AnimalsSlaughter

ManagersCaretakersHandling & TransportIdentificationEquipmentDaily InspectionsFoodWaterBuildingsThermal Environment & Ventilation

Global Animal Partnership

Founded in 2008 Brings together farmers, scientists, ranchers, retailers, and animal advocates.Goal - Improve the welfare of animals in agriculture

Global Animal Partnership Staff

Joyce D’Silva – Compassion in World Farming Mike Baker – World Society for the Protection of Animals Steven Gross – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Wayne Pacelle – Humane Society of the United States George Siemon – Organic farmer Dan Probert – Natural beef producer Paul Willis – Niman Ranch producer John Mackey – Whole Foods Market Bernard Rollin – Ethicist at Colorado State University

Miyun Park – Global Animal Partnership Ian Duncan – Animal welfare professor at University of

Guelph

Global Animal Partnership 5-Step Program

Developed the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards to promote and facilitate continuous improvement in animal agriculture. Tiered standards ranging from Step 1-Step5+ with each having its own requirements Voluntary decision by producers

Step 1 - prohibits cages and crates. Step 2 - requires environmental enrichment for indoor production systems.Step 3 - outdoor access.Step 4 - pasture-based production. Step 5 - an animal-centered approach with all physical alterations prohibited.Step 5+ - the entire life of the animal spent on an integrated farm.

Standards are available for beef cattle, broiler chickens, and pigs.

5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards - Process 1st working draft – created by advised

scientific experts Council of invited representatives review Finalized working draft is posted online for

public comment Council addresses public concerns Draft goes before Board of Directors

Standards are reviewed and revised on a regular basis to incorporate new scientific findings

PQA vs. GAP

PQA3 year certification cycle

GAPConsiders dust in addition to ammonia levels15 month certification cycleDiscusses environmental enrichmentAddresses farrowing in Steps 2-4Includes geneticsHigh priority to herd lameness levelsProhibits crates, stalls, and tethersSpecifically requires a cooling system for summer weatherAddresses nose ringing and outdoor accessMore detailed prohibited substances listPhysical alterations are prohibitedProhibits ear notching in Step 5

World Organization for Animal Health

January 25th 1924Recognized by WTOPast - fight animal disease at a global levelPresent - intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.

MISSIONS: Ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation Collect, analyze, and disseminate veterinary scientific information Encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases Safeguard world trade by publishing health standards for international trade in animals and animal products Improve the legal framework and resources of national Veterinary Services To provide a better guarantee of food of animal origin and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach

The transport of animals by land

The transport of animals by sea

The transport of animals by air

The slaughter of animals for human consumption

The killing of animals for disease control purposes

The control of stray dog populations

The use of animals in research and education

Terrestrial Code

OIE – Areas of Focus Biosecurity Lighting Acoustic environment Social environment Outdoor areas Protections from predators Genetic selection Weaning Painful husbandry

procedures

PQA vs. OIE

PQAMandates specific ammonia levelsRequires certification every 3 yearsDemands a health planRecommendations for isolation

OIE(cattle)Animal based measures

Morbidity ratesMortality rateReproductive ratesPhysical appearanceRate of post-procedure complicationsPost-mortem pathologySurvivability

EU Welfare Quality

A research project funded by the European Commission. Involved forty-four institutes and universities which represented thirteen European countries and four Latin American countries. The project started in May 2004 and took over five years The project took an animal-based approach addressing the actual welfare state of the animal in terms of behavior, fearfulness, health, or physical condition.

Goals–Develop a standardized system for the assessment of animal welfareDevelop a standardized way to convey measures into animal welfare informationDevelop practical strategies/measures to improve animal welfareUse a wide range of specialists in the field of animal welfare in Europe

PQA vs. EU Welfare Quality

PQAConsiders air qualityAddresses certified status, emergency plans, emergency systems, euthanasia, training program, and transportPossesses a health plan

EU Welfare Quality

PAACO1. Good breadth & valid measurable areas of welfare2. Inspection of animal conditions & performance, including measures of injury &

morbidity3. Documentation of mortality &/or euthanasia4. Housing conditions & capabilities to provide day-to-day care as well as respond to

contingencies of disease & injury5. Caregiver and standard operating procedure capabilities to provide day-to-day care as

well as respond to contingencies of disease and injury through euthanasia and treatment if appropriate

6. Existence of methods to reduce the likelihood & effects of catastrophic events7. Methodology to minimize errors & bias in measurement8. Criteria measures to fall w/in a range of standards from know research & application9. Presents a good standard for the industry10. Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing reinforcement of & attention to animal

welfare criteria b/w official third party audits11. Program qualification criteria clearly separated from animal welfare criteria in the

audit tool & information12. Audit instrument is written in a clear, concise format & information provides auditors

instructions on how to audit each criterion & standard

How PQA Meets PAACO standards

1. Good breadth & valid measurable areas of welfare• Different aspects of records, facilities, and animals

2. Inspection of animal conditions & performance, including measures of injury & morbidity• Daily observation of animals, BCS, space, thermal behavior,

medication/treatment records• Evaluation of injury, lameness, abscesses, prolapses, and hernias

3. Documentation of mortality &/or euthanasia• Written euthanasia plan and evaluation of timely euthanasia• Lack documentation of mortality

4. Housing conditions & capabilities to provide day-to-day care as well as respond to contingencies of disease & injury• Inspection of facilities, emergency plans, VCPR, air quality• Treatment pen

5. Caregiver and standard operating procedure capabilities to provide day-to-day care as well as respond to contingencies of disease and injury through euthanasia and treatment if appropriate• Employee training, emergency plans, euthanasia plan, VCPR• Handling and movement of animals

6. Existence of methods to reduce the likelihood & effects of catastrophic events • Documentation of employee training, emergency action plan,

medication/treatment records, VCPR, euthanasia plan, emergency back-up system for ventilation, daily observation of animals

Possible additional animal based measures for PQA• Lameness• Morbidity rates• Mortality rates• Reproductive rates• Lesion scoring• Rectal prolapse• Ruptures and hernias• Fear of humans• Tail biting