scholarly journals Varying Opinions about Animal Welfare in the Australian Live Export Industry: A Survey

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1864
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Sarah L. Wickham ◽  
Anne L. Barnes ◽  
David W. Miller ◽  
Teresa Collins
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
The Public ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Welfare Measures ◽  
Poor Welfare ◽  
Live Export

There is significant public interest in the Australian live animal export industry and a need to develop a program that can measure and monitor animal welfare throughout the supply chain. An online survey of stakeholder opinions of this industry and animal welfare measures was carried out in 2015 with 921 respondents: 30% from the public who identified as animal welfare advocates (AWAs); 44% from the public who did not identify as AWAs (general public; GP); 26% live export industry (LEI) workers. AWA and GP respondents expressed greater concern than LEI respondents for animal welfare throughout the supply chain but had less concern for animals at Australian feedlots than in other parts of the supply chain. The majority of AWA and GP respondents believed data collected on animal welfare should be made public and should be collected by independent welfare officers and used to regulate the industry and impose penalties for poor welfare. LEI workers believed that data should be confidential, collected by LEI workers and used by the industry to self-regulate. AWA and GP respondents rated the importance and practicality of a number of welfare indicators greater than LEI workers, while respondents shared an analogous view of the importance and practicality of these indicators. Results can be used to develop welfare assessments that ensure a better understanding between industry members and those not in the industry, while facilitating welfare improvements and promoting greater transparency for the live export industry.

scholarly journals Australian Livestock Export Industry Workers’ Attitudes toward Animal Welfare

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1411
Author(s):  
Renee S. Willis ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Leah R. Keating ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Teresa Collins
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Export Supply ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Provided Examples ◽  
Live Export

Understanding live export industry workers’ attitudes and beliefs toward animal welfare can provide insight into their decision-making processes and likely behavior. Industry workers (n = 265) with various roles within the supply chain were surveyed from different global regions. Participants were divided into ten categories according to their industry roles and compared using ordinal regression. Respondents were highly likely to have a positive attitude toward animal welfare; the majority of workers enjoyed working with livestock (95.8%) and agreed that livestock should be treated with respect (97.7%). Workers demonstrated a strong understanding of animal welfare concepts, 168 respondents (63.4%) provided examples of ways they had improved animal welfare in their workplace, and 164 workers (61.9%) suggested ways that animal welfare could be improved further. Most workers (95.8%) agreed that animal welfare was satisfactory in their workplace. Five out of the 24 multiple-choice responses differed significantly by the participant’s industry role, but no particular group displayed consistently divergent beliefs or attitudes. Given the community concern regarding animals in the livestock export supply chain, it is imperative to understand the attitudes of industry personnel who are responsible for the daily management of the animals. This knowledge assists in the development of animal welfare policy and can inform strategies to manage public perception.

scholarly journals Feasibility of a Sheep Welfare Assessment Tool in the Pre-export Phase of Australian Live Export Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Collins ◽  
Ursula M. C. Anthony ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Behavioral Assessment ◽  
Sea Transport ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Behavior Health ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Live Export

Sheep are exposed to numerous stressors and environments during the pre-export phase of the live export industry. Establishing how animal behavior, health and demeanor reflect their experiences prior to sea transport is the first step toward testing the suitability and practicality of animal welfare measures. A total of 240 merino wethers originating from four farms were assessed at four locations in the live export chain: on farm, upon arrival to the registered export feedlot (Fe1), prior to departing the feedlot (Fe2) and 30 min post loading onto a live export vessel. Each of these locations and time points represent relevant assessment points as part of the commercial live export process. Pen-side behavioral and health measures were collected. Video footage was collected and edited to provide 48 30–45 s duration clips that were then scored by 12 assessors against 10 demeanor terms using a Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA) methodology; data were analyzed using Principal Components (PC) analysis. Repeated Measures ANOVAs tested for variation in each dependent measure across each location and time point. There were low levels of health issues recorded overall; however, seven health and behavior measures significantly varied across the locations and time points. Most vocalizing was recorded on farm; most drinking, eating and resting behaviors were recorded at Fe1 and ruminating at Fe2; while the highest percentage of wethers with ocular discharge and lameness was on the vessel. For QBA, PC1 explained 30.5% of the variability, with agitated and nervous loaded to one end of the axis and calm and relaxed loaded to the opposing end. PC2 explained 24.5% of the variability, with interested, alert and sociable loaded to one end of the axis and lethargic loaded to the opposing end. Spearman's rank correlations between behavior, health and PC scores indicated that wethers eating, ruminating and resting were scored as more calm/relaxed, while those scored as more agitated/nervous or/ lethargic were also likely to vocalize. Determining how wethers respond to the different environments in the immediate pre-export phase of the journey informs on their welfare and the practicality of using a behavior tool to assess animal welfare.

Animal Welfare and the Wto: The Legality and Implications of Live Export Restrictions under International Trade Law

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika Chaudhri
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Export Trade ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Law ◽  
International Trade Law ◽  
Appellate Body ◽  
Export Restrictions ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Live Export

In Australia, controversial incidents regarding the treatment of live animals exported from Australia spark regular debate on whether the live export trade should be banned or more tightly regulated. Government responses to public outcry often take the form of restrictions on the trade of the animals concerned, but the legality of unilateral measures of this kind is yet to be directly considered by the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body. This article examines the legality of imposing restrictions on live export under the international trade law regime set up by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (‘GATT’),1 and in particular, whether such measures could be justified under Article XX. In exploring this question, special attention is given to the Australian government's new regulatory framework, as introduced by the Export Control (Animals) Amendment Order 2012 (No 1), which imposes an exporter supply chain assurance obligation on Australian suppliers. In addition, in light of the continued calls from animal welfare groups to ban the trade entirely, the legality of a complete moratorium on live exports will also be considered. Although the exceptions in Articles XX(b) and XX(g) of the GATT appear to be relevant to live exports, ultimately any regulation might be best supported under the ‘public morals’ exception in Article XX(a). However, care will need to be taken in the design of any restriction to avoid breaching the strict chapeau requirements of Article XX.

scholarly journals Importance and Feasibility of Animal Welfare Measures from a Consumer Perspective in Germany

Food Ethics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Winkel ◽  
Sirkka Schukat ◽  
Heinke Heise
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Representative Study ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Welfare Measures

AbstractThe subject animal welfare is increasingly in the public discourse. Consumers and policymakers are increasingly demanding products that are produced under increased animal welfare standards. The profession of the farmer involuntarily gets into disrepute. Many consumers want fundamental changes in pig farming, but are not aware of the consequences of implementation. In this representative study, consumers (n = 1101) were asked about their assessment of 33 animal welfare measures with regard to their importance and the feasibility of implementing those measures. With the help of a four-field matrix, both the perceived importance and the feasibility of the animal welfare measures surveyed were brought together. The results show four possibilities: important and easy to implement, important and not feasible, not important and easy to implement as well as not important and not feasible. The results show that any outdoor access to pasture ranks first, followed by any outdoor access to straw bedding. The results can make a significant contribution to future communication with critical consumers concerning the implementation of higher animal welfare levels, as it becomes clearer how realistic consumers are about the feasibility of several animal welfare measures. Furthermore, the results could prove useful for the design of animal welfare programs and could help famers making targeted decisions concerning stable construction and management.

Farm animal welfare: origins, and interplay with economics and policy.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Alistair Lawrence ◽  
Belinda Vigors
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Farm Animal Welfare ◽  
Standard View ◽  
Pecking Order ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Political Actions

Abstract In this chapter we look at the origins of animal welfare as a societal concern and the interplay between the concept of animal welfare, economics and policy. We firstly propose adjustments to the 'standard view' of the development of animal welfare concerns (which we refer to as the Harrison-Brambell- FAWC (HBF) sequence). For example, we suggest that the role of science in setting animal welfare policy is a more complex process than is sometimes acknowledged. We discuss the application of economics to animal welfare including the analysis of the costs of animal welfare improvements to more recent work on trade-offs relating to animal welfare across the supply chain. Considering this range of uses of economics relating to animal welfare, we identify that the question of how to value animal welfare in economic terms remains unresolved. Lastly, we suggest that the period 1965-2008 may come to be regarded as a 'golden era' for the translation of animal welfare concerns into positive socio-political actions. We discuss a raft of issues which appear to have diminished the position of animal welfare in the policy 'pecking order'. However, societal concern over animal welfare will mean that government and others will need to be cautious of breaching 'red lines'. On a more positive note, the public profile that animal welfare enjoys will continue to provide the opportunity for policy and business innovations to improve animals' lives.

scholarly journals Review of Livestock Welfare Indicators Relevant for the Australian Live Export Industry

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1236
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Sarah L. Wickham ◽  
Emma J. Dunston-Clarke ◽  
Renee S. Willis ◽  
Anne L. Barnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Export Industry ◽  
Livestock Species ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
Export Supply ◽  
Benchmarking System ◽  
Live Export

Animal welfare is an important issue for the live export industry (LEI), in terms of economic returns, community attitudes and international socio-political relations. Mortality has traditionally been the main welfare measure recorded within the LEI; however, high mortality incidents are usually acted upon after adverse events occur, reducing the scope for proactive welfare enhancement. We reviewed 71 potential animal welfare measures, identifying those measures that would be appropriate for use throughout the LEI for feeder and slaughter livestock species, and categorised these as animal-, environment- and resource-based. We divided the live export supply chain into three sectors: (1) Australian facilities, (2) vessel and (3) destination country facilities. After reviewing the relevant regulations for each sector of the industry, we identified 38 (sector 1), 35 (sector 2) and 26 (sector 3) measures already being collected under current practice. These could be used to form a ‘welfare information dashboard’: a LEI-specific online interface for collecting data that could contribute towards standardised industry reporting. We identified another 20, 25 and 28 measures that are relevant to each LEI sector (sectors 1, 2, 3, respectively), and that could be developed and integrated into a benchmarking system in the future.

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