building effective solutions for a sustainable and productive livestock sector: integrating...
TRANSCRIPT
Building effective solutions for a sustainable and productive livestock sector: integrating efficiency,
sustainability and animal welfare.
Ottawa October 2013
Dr. Lesley Lambert
World Society for the Protection of Animals
• International presence: 17 offices in 15 countries
• Intergovernmental influence: Permanent representation on OIE animal welfare working group, Memorandum of Understanding with OIE; UN General Consultative status.
• Members of other governmental animal welfare advisory bodies in a range of countries e.g. UK Farm Animal Welfare Council
• Memoranda of Understanding with expert organisations e.g. China Veterinary Medical Association
• Developing our corporate programme. Focus: positive long term engagement on shared interests
The Value Of Engagement
1. Developing robust evidence of win-win scenarios
2. Working with major agribusiness to make change, on the ground
3. Building case studies of practical solutions
4. Shaping the environment in which we work – pragmatic integration
5. Communicating the point of difference
What WSPA can offer
1. Technical knowledge and expertise and links to research
2. Constructive corporate collaboration3. WSPA’s track record in designing and
delivering innovations with industry4. Engagement with international
mechanisms5. Strong positive communications
focus
Challenges
4
Farm animal welfare: good for people, business and greater sustainability
Economics, business, livelihood
Public health
Sufficient and safe food production
Water, land and natural resources
Environment Animal welfare in
food production
5
Farm animal welfare: good for people, business and greater sustainability
Economics, business, livelihood
Public health
Sufficient and safe food production
Water, land and natural resources
Environment Animal welfare in
food production
Food security: can good welfare systems deliver?
• Animal welfare and productivity can go hand in hand• Business as usual will bring challenges for food security• It is possible to increase consumption where needed to ensure nutrition,
especially if sustainable diets increase the operating space elsewhereErb et al 2009, 2011
Blue and grey water footprint of beef and pork
• Water footprint efficiency is counterintuitive – intensive is not more efficient
• Demand for blue water, and grey water output, are major factors in assessing environmental impact of livestock production
• Grazed beef has much higher green water input, but lower pact on blue and grey water; no increases efficiency for blue and grey water in industrial pork production
Gerbens-Leenes, Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2011) UNESCO-IHE
Animal welfare improvements benefit greenhouse gas efficiency – up to 10%
Linking herd parameters, animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions
What are the consequences of dairy intensification and zero grazing for the whole picture of dairy?
Including dairy beef in the model
The bigger picture: intensification creates greenhouse gas inefficiencies
Welfare and livelihoods: Pasture based dairy – LELBREN, Kenya
Animal welfare integral to the system of production
Why pasture:• To boosting yields – attempted zero grazing but….• Artificial insemination services unreliable • Lack of breed choice and pedigree records • High operational costs • Supplementary feeds unavailable• Poor health and infertility of the dairy cows – fast turnover and replacement
Now: Crossbreeds, healthier, more resilient to local environmental conditionsPasture – low cost, low labour, more reliableAbility to boost production in within a low input systemBetter animal welfare
Good for animal welfare, highly sustainable, sound livelihoods
Why pasture?
Good animal welfare can deliver better livelihoods
• Optimal yields are truly sustainable
• Enabling pasture farmers to succeed requires action:
• Infrastructure, vet services, marketing
• Policy reflects the value of pasture based agriculture
• E.g. Global agenda, COP implementation
• Research programme priority
• Reflects real resource use and impact (LCAs and co-products
• Wider implications for animal welfare, environment, livelihoods
Agenda Consensus
“Integrating respect for socially desirable outcomes that are not the immediate focus of Agenda related activities including, but not limited to, public health, biodiversity and animal welfare”
Principles underpinning animal welfare assessment
Five freedoms
• Pain Injury and Disease
• Hunger and thirst
• Shelter
• Fear and distress
• Natural behaviour
Broadly supported
(OIE etc.)
Welfare Quality
Four main principles:
• Good feeding
• Good housing
• Good health
• Appropriate behaviour
Scientific body of knowledge on behaviour and welfare
