Farming with a conscience......



  • Compassionate Farming
  • Where animals come first
  • Now you can enjoy products from animals whose welfare is paramount
  • Don't compromise  your standards
  • Reflect your values
  • Take time to care how the animals are farmed
  • because there is more to life than money
  • Value compassion
   
Welfare Spin


  • There are lots of companies who claim to be 'green' and put animal welfare first
  • This is often unsubstantiated jargon with companies unwilling to objectively measure the welfare of animals.
  • The Stress Measurement Company can objectively monitor stress levels.
  • Don't rely on loose suppositions
  • Ask for evidence of Objective Measures of Stress
  • Because compassion is too important to be left to chance

Consumer Power


The Economic Arguments: why should farmers     care?

Producers that can provide objective reliable data on the effective conditions under which their livestock is raised will gain a significant advantage in markets that are willing to pay a premium for the products of Best Practice humane farming techniques.


The following are quotes from the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-
• 62% of European Consumers said they would change their shopping habits in order to purchase products that are more 'animal welfare friendly'
• 74% EU consumers believed they can positively impact animal welfare by their purchasing decisions.
• A large majority of EU consumers would like to see more visible indications of animal welfare standards to enable them to choose their food based on animal welfare considerations

Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General European Union
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/factsheet_farmed03-2007_en.pdf

Increasingly ‘green’ consumers, and the retailers that supply them, want an objective, across-the-board standard for animal welfare, NOT just suppositions based on loose definitions of conditions under which livestock are raised. We believe that, as the only stable, scientific measure available, the CC Test will become that standard.

By providing accurate objective measurement, the CC Test is an effective tool  for better livestock management. The CC test has been used by farmers to grade the stress to which livestock are subjected too (names withheld under confidentiality agreement). Animals which are less stressed (ie those falling in the Premium and Platinum categories) are likely to fetch higher prices (see below).


Grading Stress in livestock. Animals with a higher CC (Coping capacity) are better able to cope with conditions.

Animals graded according to the CC response. Stressed animals have a low CC and were found to develop more skin infections.

 

How does Stress affect the production of Beef?

 
Stress affects the:

  • Quality
  • Quantity
  • Productivity
  • Profitability beef production

 

Beef Cattle (Belk 2002):

In the US alone $12 billion losses ($500 per head) have been attributed to poor handling and management of cattle Further inconsistencies in the quality of beef namely  Insufficient Palatability, (b) Inadequate Marbling, (c) Problems With Color, Water-Loss And Shelf life Of Beef Muscle, and (d) Production/Management Errors Causing Blemishes, Bruises, Defects, Diseases And Condemnations have reduced profits

The stressors to which animals are exposed include noise, odours, deprivation of food and water, vibration and changes of velocity, extremes of temperature, breakdown of social groupings, close confinement and often overcrowding, removal from their home environment, transport and holding in unfamiliar environments. These stressors result in physiological responses which can not only cause the animal distress, but can result in a reduction in carcasss and meat quality.

 

How Stress may affect meat quality (Schaefer et al 2001)


Can the meat quality be improved by minimising stressors?

Stressed animals are more likely to cost money in terms of sickness, bruising and lowered meat quality. Stressed animals are more likely to harbour and shed bacterial contaminants in their faeces and thus more likely to have e.g., Salmonellae, E. coli contamination on their surfaces. Reducing stress levels can improve productivity of live animals and result in greater profitability in terms of weight gain and food conversation rate and can reduce the need for medication.

 
Cattle that are not stressed are more likely to gain weight and less likely to suffer from stress-associated respiratory infections and have fewer bruises and more tenderness. The quality of meat is affected if animals are exposed to stress over (undesirable extreme paleness and darkness and dryness) .

 
Reducing stress in animals can improve profit margins through higher valuations in merit –pricing systems, fewer loses because of stress induced opportunistic infections and in the packing and processing sector (through less condemnations, and reduced trim losses). In summary, reducing stress levels is not only ethically desirable, but can improve productivity, quality and profitability (Belk 2002)

 

Does Stress affect milk yield in dairy cows?

Stress affects :

Milk quality

  • The reproductive life of Dairy Cows
  • Reduces yields
  • Increases the incidence of disease amongst Dairy cattle
  • Reduces profitability

Stress can significantly affect milk yields in dairy cows (Rushen 1999) and the quality of milk (Wallace 1998)

  • Stress can cause mastitis.
  • Cows with mastitis are more likely to be treated with antibiotics (resulting in possible antibiotic residues in milk)
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Strep. Agalactiae are contagious and transmitted during the milking process
  • Economic losses due to clinical mastitis have been estimated to be $107 per clinical episode. Losses due to decreased milk production and non-salable milk account for 84 percent or almost $90 per case (Wallace 1998).
  • Most milk processors offer quality premiums for milk with less than 25,000/ml bacteria per millilitre
  •  Both bacteria and somatic cells can alter milk quality through enzymatic destruction of milk protein and milk fat.
  • Provision of a stress-free atmosphere for cows, particularly around calving is essential for mastitis control, as well as high production
  • Cows that are immunosuppressed are much more likely to contract mastitis and it may take longer for them to clear infections
  • Stress can affect the reproduction of cows (which affects milk yields)


Can the profitability of milk be increased by minimising stress?

Reducing stress in animals can improve profit margins and result in fewer stress induced opportunistic infections. Where bacterial infections do occur minimising stress can reduce the length of time for which the cow is incapacitated. Minimising stress reduces bacterial contamination of the milk (and can thus reduce the need for antibiotics) , and improve the reproductive ability of the cows. In summary, reducing stress levels is not only ethically desirable, but can improve productivity, quality and profitability of milk production

 


How does Stress affect Pigs?

Stress affects the:

  • Quality
  • Quantity
  • Productivity
  • Profitability pork production

Pigs:

 

US $40 billion pound pig industry looses up to $90million in lost revenue from stress associated diseases which amongst other factors can turn up to 15 percent of pork into undesirable inedible sweating pale cuts of meat that ooze liquid in the packaging and become leathery when cooked (When Pigs Stress our When Pigs Stress Out  By ARMELLE CASAU Published: New York Times October 7, 2003)

New York Times 2003).

 
How  does stress affect pigs?

 

Livestock management (mixing, handling, isolation, transport, weaning) can induce stress and if not appropriately managed, stress may cause:

 

  • decreased well-being,
  • reduced growth
  • increased disease rates through immunosuppression
  •  Stress can cause Porcine Stress Syndrome which can cause Death of  pigs. Bruising and rupture of capillaries in muscle; occurrence of unwanted blood spots in the meat.
  • Pale/soft/exudative pork and dry pork muscle with low water-holding capacity resulting
  • Stressed animals are more likely to harbour Salmonella, Campylobacterjejuni and Yersinia entercolitica which can result in increased surface contamination of meat. Salmonella and Campylobacter species can cause human illness.


  How can reducing Stress make a difference?

  • Reducing stress increases productivity of live animals
  • Reduces the incidence of dry firm pork soft and exudative pork
  • Pigs that are not stressed gain weight more rapidly and efficiently
  • Higher quality of livestock, carcasses and cuts
  • Reduces the need for antibiotics
  • Increased weight conversion rates
  • Greater profit margins
  • Breeding stock reaches maximum performance
  • Increase the profitability of operations in the production sector (improves efficiencies,
  • Increase the profitability in the packing/processing sector through higher quality carcasses, fewer condemnations and lessened trim losses

 

 

Stress In Sheep

 Stress can affect growth (Bornett et al 2004)

  • Growth rate
  • Reproductive function
  • Wool growth
  • Meat quality
  • Susceptibility to infections
  • Tenderness (Red meat Industry forum)
  • Flavour (Red Meat Industry Forum)
  • Cost



How can reducing Stress make a difference?

 

  • Reducing stress increases productivity of live animals
  • Reduces the incidence of dry firm mean
  • Sheep that are not stressed gain weight more rapidly and efficiently
  • Higher quality of livestock, carcasses and cuts
  • Reduces the need for antibiotics
  • Increased weight conversion rates
  • Greater profit margins
  • Breeding stock reaches maximum performance
  • Increase the profitability of operations in the production sector (improves efficiencies,
  • Increase the profitability in the packing/processing sector through higher quality carcasses, fewer condemnations and lessened trim losses

 

 

Animal welfare and Consumers

 

Welfare Legislation

In 1998, the European Union produced a Council Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes gave general rules for the protection of animals of all species kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or for other farming purposes, These rules are based on the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes. They reflect the so-called 'Five Freedoms' as adopted by the Farm Animal Welfare Council:

  • Freedom from hunger and thirst - access to fresh water and a diet for full health and vigour,
  • Freedom from discomfort - an appropriate environment with shelter and comfortable rest area,
  • Freedom from pain, injury and disease - prevention or rapid treatment,
  • Freedom to express normal behaviour - adequate space and facilities, company of the animal's own kind,
  • Freedom from fear and distress - conditions and treatment which avoid mental sufferings.

Community legislation concerning the welfare conditions of farm animals lays down minimum standards. National governments may adopt more stringent rules provided they are compatible with the provisions of the Treaty.

 

UK legislation

 

Within the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006 UK came into effect on 6th April 2007 in England


It places a duty of care amongst owners and keepers responsible of animals for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met.

These include the need:

  1. For a suitable environment (place to live)
  2. For a suitable diet
  3. To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
  4. To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
  5. To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

  


There is considerable evidence that producers who can support claims that animals are raised within a humane framework with objective data will be able to gain significant market advantage.


The following are quotes from the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-

  •  62% of European Consumers said they would change their shopping habbits in order to purchase products that are more 'animal welfare friendly'

  • 74% EU consumers believed they can postively impact animal welfare by their purchasing decsions.
  • A large majority of EU consumers would like to see more visible indications of animal welfare standards to enable them to choose their food based on animal welfare considerations

 

Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General European Union

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/factsheet_farmed03-2007_en.pdf

We believe that objective data obtained by the CC technique will be used as standard, and postively contribute to animal welfare.

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