Taking Account of Animal Ethics and Welfare

Animal ethics and welfare, the model codes of practice for the welfare of animals and the bureaucracy which is necessary to make the codes work, are an indulgence of wealthy, developed countries. In many developing countries the main concern of people is their day-to-day survival with little concern for long-term ecological implications or animal welfare issues. Unfortunately many aid programs have been a waste of money with many layers of expensive bureaucracy, and recently organisations have been forced to reconsider their position on the livestock industries in developing countries. Working with the farmers and their indigenous stock, progress can be made with seemingly simple strategies. Just the system of feeding poultry each day and confining them for part of the day and at night can produce more eggs and prevent predation. This means more money, better health for the livestock and the people. The concept of animal welfare could be built into this training with the emphasis on the benefits accruing to the people as well as to the animals.