Farm animal welfare

Farm animals raised humanely are healthier – so we improve farm animal welfare and campaign to change the most intensive forms of farming

We protect farm animals

Humane animal farming is better for everyone. Animals live longer, healthier and more active lives. High welfare farming can be less damaging to the environment. And farmers can earn more too. So we work with governments, farmers and consumers all over the world – campaigning for farm animals and partnering with businesses to show that farming can be sustainable and profitable.

We work with farmers to improve animal welfare and keep animals in an environment where they can behave naturally

Farm animal welfare: the benefits

Humane farms are better for animals, people and the environment:

• Raising animals humanely can use less feed, fuel and water than intensive farming, reducing costs and pollution
• Humane farms can create jobs, boost profits and keep local food supplies healthy
• By farming crops and livestock, humane farms can reduce environmental damage – recycling nutrients and improving the soil
• Greenhouse gas emissions are often reduced when animals are healthy and have good welfare.

Farm animal welfare: our work

At World Animal Protection, we help companies and farmers to adopt farming methods without close confinement of animals, as these cause pain and distress. And we help to create conditions where animals are more able to express their natural behaviours, and move freely, which reduces the need for painful practices like tail docking (which is used to stop crowded pigs attacking each other in intensive farms).

Change is already happening. In 2012, the use of barren battery cages – which confine hens to a space smaller than the size of A4 paper, is being phased out by many companies that are switching to barn and free-range farming. Keeping sows throughout pregnancy in stalls so cramped that they are unable to turn around was banned by the EU in 2013.

So it’s time to keep up the pressure. Together, we can call on the global farming industry to guarantee farm animals a life worth living.

Back a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare now.