Organic farming and the promotion of animal welfare

As regular consumers of agricultural produce, we need to assume a reasonable portion of responsibility for the health and well-being of domesticated stock animals. By discriminating in favour of ethical producers, consumers exert a strong influence on the overall quality of animal husbandry and stock management. In the past it has often been difficult to assess such qualitative differences between primary producers. This appears to have changed since the well-publicised food and hygiene scares of the eighties. Farmers and livestock producers have become more adept at public relations and those who employ ethical practices are in a better position to promote this knowledge amongst consumers.

On account of their smaller operating scale and low intensity practices, most organic producers have managed to establish favourable records in terms of animal health and welfare. Depending upon certification standards, organic producers cannot always use the range of veterinary treatments and feed supplements available to conventional producers. These restrictions have resulted in a strong tradition of preventative and holistic health practices. Until recently there have been few objective attempts to measure differences in health between animals raised organically and those raised according to conventional methods.

A three year study organised by the Scottish Agricultural College found a lower incidence of lameness for cattle on organic dairy farms compared to non-organic farms. There were no significant differences in the incidence of mastitis, ketosis, or fertility between the comparison groups. Based on the positive findings of this study, a Swedish research group is preparing to investigate the levels of stress experienced by cattle on organic dairy farms compared with those raised on conventional dairy farms.