Animal Health and Welfare Pathway: Mandatory Proposals
Introduction
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway was launched in 2023 to deliver a number of enhancements to the health, welfare and biosecurity of farm animals in England. Currently, the Animal Health and Welfare Review and endemic disease follow-up elements of the Pathway operate on a voluntary basis and there is funding available for eligible farmers of cattle, sheep and pigs to carry out a range of activities on their farms. These existing services and the proposals outlined in this consultation have been the product of a collaborative process called co-design involving farmers, vets and government working in partnership to develop government policy.
Currently, farmers with 11 or more cattle, 51 or more pigs and 21 or more sheep can apply for funding for a visit from the vet who keeps those keepers’ animals under their care once a year, called the Animal Health and Welfare Review (AHWR). The need for the AHWR was identified across multiple farming sectors, through engagement with representatives of the farming industry. Many farmers are already benefiting from regular interaction with their vet, whether through routine visits, assurance scheme membership, participation in disease control programmes or veterinary attestation visits. The AHWR supports farmers to proactively engage with their vet on a regular basis and gets more vets on farms to offer health and welfare expertise. The visit takes the form of a discussion between the vet and the farmer, alongside provision of bespoke veterinary advice on any health or welfare topic, supporting farmers in achieving better outcomes for their animals.
There is also funding available to target priority endemic diseases in these animals. For cattle, the current target disease is Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and for pigs it is Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), selected due to their high impacts on the sectors. BVD is estimated to cost the cattle sector £14 million to £36 million each year, and PRRS costs the pig sector an estimated £52 million each year.[1]
The funding currently available aims to strengthen relationships and knowledge sharing between farmers and vets and make progress in tackling these costly diseases. To ensure that lasting benefits are seen from the actions being funded, we are proposing legislation in addition to the vet visit required by the EU Animal Health Law. This legislation would supplement the requirements in Article 25 of the Animal Health Law and require farmers of cattle, sheep and pigs to have an annual AHWR with their vet to review the health and welfare of their animals and discuss overall farm biosecurity and responsible use of medicines. The AHWR goes beyond the requirements of most farm assurance schemes.
For sheep farmers, we propose to introduce a mandatory flock health plan, developed by farmers alongside their vet. This is designed to encourage a proactive approach to anticipating and planning for health, welfare and biosecurity issues in flocks. It would assist farmers in tackling a wide range of issues that sheep can face, including internal and external parasites and the growing challenge of wormer resistance.
We also propose the introduction of mandatory disease eradication programmes for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). This would ensure that all farms are working together to reduce the spread and impact of these diseases, supporting those farmers already undertaking measures to protect their animals. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already introduced a mandatory approach to the eradication of BVD, along with several countries on the European continent, such as Denmark and Sweden. These programmes have made notable progress, with BVD prevalence in Northern Ireland falling by 70% (2) . A mandatory approach to PRRS control is also happening in Europe, including programmes in Hungary and Denmark. Taking a mandatory approach to PRRS control would reduce the high costs burdening the pig sector and encourage a co-ordinated effort to reduce the spread of the virus.
These proposals contribute to the delivery of key public goods such as enhanced animal health and welfare, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, slowing the rise of anti-microbial resistance and enhanced resilience against future disease outbreaks within the farming sector.
The following sections of this consultation set out the proposals in greater detail along with questions to gather your views on each element.
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