Responding to Defra’s newly-published strategy, NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton emphasised that animal welfare is a “top priority” for livestock farmers.
“However, the proposals contained in this strategy must not create additional burden and cost along the supply chain, reducing our efficiency and competitiveness,” he added.
What has Defra announced?
“For all livestock farmers, animal welfare is a top priority, and they recognise how important it is to the public.”
NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton
Changes to management practices
Defra has said it wants to encourage farmers to move away from using castration and tail docking routinely. Defra has said it will look to work with sectors to either reduce the frequency of management procedures or, where procedures are deemed necessary, improve the use of anaesthetics and analgesics,. It will also work with veterinary societies to promote the use of the Animal Health and Welfare Review to initiate a discussion with farmers on the need to perform management practices and the most ‘welfare-friendly’ methods to use.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits any procedure which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal. The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 list certain exemptions to which the prohibition does not apply if certain conditions are met. Exemptions include the castration of ram lambs carried out to avoid unwanted pregnancies, for stock management purposes, and to avoid market disruption.
Castration of male lambs is an important management practice to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and tail docking of lambs is essential to prevent and reduce the risk of fly strike, a significant welfare issue.
Strong evidence on rubber ring use
There is significant strength of feeling on the NFU’s Livestock Board and within our membership that the use of these management practices must be maintained to secure good welfare for the life of the animal.
There is strong evidence that supports retaining the use of rubber rings to ensure good welfare and maintain farmers’ ability to market old-season lambs.
NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton said: “The current regulation is already clear; rubber rings must be used under seven days. Our survey on lamb production and husbandry management methods demonstrated that tail docking and castration is done for good welfare, productivity and trade reasons, with many respondents stating that any minimal discomfort caused when ringed under seven days of age was better when considering the many other welfare and segregation issues that would result.
“We would be happy to see new products enter the market and for pain relief products to be available for the sheep sector. However, injectable pain relief risks introducing infections such as joint-ill, increasing the need to use antibiotics and further welfare issues, and adds another process in time-limited and challenging conditions.”
Proposals to ban trail hunting
Defra has announced in its strategy that it will be consulting in 2026 on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.
Hunt kennels provide a vital service for livestock farmers, collecting fallen livestock and carrying out emergency slaughter on farm of sick or injured animals. The NFU is concerned that farmers will lose this essential service which not only helps to ensure animal welfare but also that animal by-products are collected and disposed of without delay, safeguarding our environment.
Exports
The NFU acknowledges Defra’s ban on the live exports of animals for slaughter and further fattening. The supply chain has evolved towards the very valuable and important practice of exporting animals ‘on the hook’ as whole carcasses and meat products. We continue to support the trade of high-value breeding livestock.
It is important that farmed animal welfare policy is being considered alongside other government commitments, such as the food strategy, Farming Roadmap, and the trade strategy. It is essential that we only import from countries that meet our standards, otherwise we put our farmers at a significant disadvantage and are misleading consumers with ambiguous labelling.
During transport
The government’s stated aim is that animals should only be transported if it is necessary, and transport should be by the most welfare-considerate route. Journey durations should be minimised where possible to reduce the risk of welfare complications arising during transport.
NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton added: “On transport, the focus must be on working with the industry to improve the awareness and attitude of some operators within the livestock sector towards fitness to travel and their responsibility for managing welfare throughout the journey in line with existing rules, guidance and assurance standards.
“The focus should not be on areas that would have little or no net welfare benefit, but would carry huge financial and efficiency implications, such as temperature restrictions, journey time reductions and increasing the headroom in vehicles.
“Repeated studies show that regardless of the purpose of the journey and destination, it is the quality of stockmanship during loading and unloading, and the animals’ fitness to travel which are the key factors in ensuring the best possible welfare outcomes.”
