What are the animal welfare issues with turkey farming? Turkeys, along with chickens and ducks, are one of the more common species of poultry farmed for meat. Domestic turkeys...
What are the animal welfare issues with piglet husbandry procedures? In their first few days of life, piglets may undergo several painful husbandry procedures such as teeth clipping, tail docking,...
What are the animal welfare issues with pig farming? In Australia, pigs farmed for meat are housed in several types of farming systems including intensive indoor systems, semi-indoor (outdoor...
What are farmed Atlantic salmon fed? Salmon are carnivorous and their formulated feed contains fish meal as a source of protein and fish oil as a...
How are pigs farmed in Australia? Pigs are smart, sociable and inquisitive animals. Today’s pigs descend from wild boars that were domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago...
Why is environmental enrichment important for pig welfare? Providing environmental enrichment may be an effective strategy to improve animal welfare by enabling positive affective (emotional) states and improving...
Why is group housing important for pig welfare? Pigs are intelligent, social animals, with a complex range of behaviours and needs. Group housing of pregnant pigs allows them...
What is swill and can it be fed to pigs? Swill is any animal food that contains animal matter such as meat, meat products or meat by-products. Swill is a...
Why is wallowing important for pig welfare? Wallowing is a natural behaviour which pigs are motivated to perform and, when given the opportunity, pigs will make their...
How are meat chickens farmed in Australia? Chickens are sociable, quirky and inquisitive creatures. Descended from jungle fowl, they still possess instincts strongly aligned with seeking shelter...
Why is good litter condition important for meat chicken welfare? Meat chickens, even those that are provided with access to an outdoor range area, will spend the majority of their...
What are the welfare concerns for breeder birds in the meat chicken industry? Breeder birds in the meat chicken industry lay the eggs that will hatch into chickens grown for meat. There are...
How much space does a meat chicken need? All animals need to have enough space to carry out their normal behaviours, and to be physically healthy. When it...
What are the animal welfare issues with on-farm euthanasia of meat chickens? Chickens in the meat industry are sometimes required to be euthanased on-farm if they are weak, sick, injured or unable...
Why is environmental enrichment important for meat chicken welfare? For meat chickens to experience good welfare, it’s important that their environment is stimulating and enriching, and allows them to...
Why is access to adequate light important for meat chicken welfare? Access to adequate light and periods of darkness are necessary for meat chicken welfare, as they encourage natural behaviours including...
What are the animal welfare issues associated with cashmere production? Cashmere is a fine fibre that is obtained from Cashmere goats and other similar breeds. The animal welfare issues relate...
What is the difference between a farrowing crate and a farrowing hut? In indoor intensive systems, pregnant gilts/sows (female pigs) are moved to a farrowing crate, also known as a piglet protection...
What are the animal welfare issues with sow stalls and farrowing crates? The majority of Australian pigs continue to be housed in intensive indoor systems. The close confinement of pigs in indoor...
What are the animal welfare issues associated with imported pork? All fresh pork products sold in Australia are from pigs raised in Australia, whereas imported pork products are either ‘small...