the future role of the veterinary profession in protecting and improving farm animal welfare...
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The future role of the veterinary profession in protecting and improving farm animal
welfare
Christopher WathesAcknowledgements: Nick Bell, Dan Brockman, Sandra Corr, Steve Lister, Claire Wathes, Colin Whittemore, Steven Van
Winden and Angela Wright
A veterinary education produces a comparative zoologist with expertise in animal disease and comparative biology, who is an analyser and solver of complex veterinary problems
Wicked problems
1. Are vets professionals?
2. To whom are vets responsible? The client, the patient or their business?
3. What should be their future role and who should be their role model?
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Depth vs. Breadth of knowledgeOf a
VetScientistPara – vetConsultant
At day oneAfter board
certification or PhDWith experience
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At graduation
PhD Board-certified
With experience
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Act Scope
Cruel Treatment of Cattle 1822 Prevent cruel treatment of cattle
Protection of Animals 1911 Avoid unnecessary suffering - through an act of commission or omission
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1968
Prevention of unnecessary pain and distress for livestock; powers of entry
Animal Welfare 2006 Provision of animal needs
Cruelty to Animals 1876 A licensing system for animal experimentation
Animals (Scientific Procedures) 1986
Improved licensing system for animal experimentation
British Law on Animal Welfare
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"By 2020, if not earlier, in China and India a middle class of about 700 to 750 million people with a buying power comparable to that in Europe today, will have completely changed the market situation for food in East and South Central Asia”. Professor Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst; International Egg Commission
Feeding the world: Sustainable intensification with compassion
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How do we ensure an acceptable quality of life for a farm animal?
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After Donald Rumsfeld, 2002
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Welfare and Ethics
Market forces
Lesser of two evils
Political dilemmas
Poultry slaughter
Gatherings Castration & tail docking
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Welfare and Economics
Milk – Farm 26 p/l
Milk – Supermarket 67 p/l
Water – Supermarket 40 p to £1/l
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A good life
A life worth living
A life not worth living
Quality of a Life
©Farm Animal Welfare Council, 2009
‘The question is not just, “Do they suffer?” nor, “Are their needs met?” but rather, “Do they have a life worth living?”’ Farm Animal Welfare Council, 2010.
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Public surveillance
Welfare guardianship
Compliance with legislation;
Ensuring minimum standards met
Government’s responsibility
Animal Health/VLA survey; LA
& FSA/MHS inspections
Published
Welfare surveillance
Private surveillance Farm management; Consumer assurance Farm profitability; Marketing Farmer’s responsibility (within the food supply chain) Self-assessment; Farm assurance schemes Confidential
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Guarding the welfare of farm animals
Governmentpolicy
Implementation and regulatory
enforcement
Publicsurveillance
Information
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Necessary conditions for ethical consumers and improved farm animal welfare
1. The Government to act as the guardian of farm animal welfare2. Standards for a ‘good life’ defined by an independent body3. Minimum welfare standard defined by quality of life4. Stockmen to be educated and trained to a high standard about welfare5. Welfare assessment to be valid, feasible and rigorous with independent audit 6. Due diligence in the food chain with marketing claims verified7. Citizens educated about food and farming from childhood8. Animal products to be labelled according to welfare provenance to provide
consumer choice
Problems and solutions
1. University fees — paying back the loan
Who pays for what? Choices …
2. Veterinary curriculum
Don’t overcrowd
3. Vet. undergraduates are mostly women, who will work in small animal practice
What’s the problem?
4. Interest of vets in inspection for QA schemes
Incentivise and train
5. Knowledge of animal husbandry
UG tracking and PG CPD courses on animal breeding, nutrition, housing, management
6. Disease prevention vs. Fire fighting
Payment for health and welfare plans. Visits to the dentist …
7. Individual vs. Herd
An ethical dilemma: the solution depends on the role model
8. Sustainable intensification
OK if it’s done with compassion
9. Physical vs. Mental health
Count feelings too
10. Patient vs. Client
An ethical dilemma: the solution depends on the role model
11. Guardians of farm animal welfare
Accept the responsibility?
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"In as much as the privilege of membership of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is about to be conferred upon me, I promise and solemnly declare that I will abide in all due loyalty to The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and will do all in my power to maintain and promote its interests. I promise above all that I will pursue the work of my profession with uprightness of conduct and that my constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care“.
Role models?
Agri-business vet Paid by and working for
farmers (and the food chain) Roles: part of the
agricultural service sector, often supporting farm assurance schemes; private welfare surveillance without publication
Duties: advice to farmers; problem solving; fire fighting
Society’s vet Paid for by the tax-payer,
allowing them to ‘sleep easily’
Roles: protect human health and wellbeing; public welfare surveillance with findings published
Duties: advice to citizens; public health; a welfare guardian
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