Animal welfare - a threat or an opportunity for research, farming and trade

A.C.D. Bayvel

Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, P.O. Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1993, 53: 223-226

Animal welfare is becoming increasingly recognised as an important component of the quality assurance guarantees sought by both domestic and international consumers of primary products of animal origin. Consumers are being influenced by "conscience factors", rather than cost, and are now moving to take a "conception to consumption" interest in farming and abattoir practices and the associated animal welfare standards. Perceptions of New Zealand's welfare and husbandry practices thus play an important role in favourably positioning products in premium-priced international markets. It is important to be able to sustain, both scientifically and ethically, the New Zealand approach to animal welfare. This is especially important where New Zealand practices differ or even conflict with the practices of trading partners. In a market-responsive economy, these consumer preference trends highlight the need to present New Zealand's produce as grown in a welfare- conscious, environmentally sensitive, sustained-yield manner.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Animal welfare; trade; research; farming practices; codes of practice; legislation.

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Last Updated 25-01-1997