A high level of animal welfare is one of the requirements of modern and sustainable cattle farming.
But what is the state of animal welfare in German beef and dairy production? Data that allows conclusions to be drawn on partial aspects of animal welfare, such as through milk performance testing or ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, are already being collected. However, a systematic, nationwide evaluation of this information is still lacking.
This is where the National Animal Welfare Monitoring, or "NaTiMon" for short, should come in, which takes into account animal welfare aspects in husbandry as well as during transport and slaughter. The report is based on regularly collected management, resource and animal-related indicators.
The following advantages should result from the National Animal Welfare Monitoring in the future:
- Cattle farmers will be able to compare the situation on their farm with the population of farms nationwide and thus better categorise the existing level of animal welfare in their own livestock farming.
- This creates a reliable basis for knowledge-based political decisions.
- Consumers can use objective information to form a picture of animal welfare in German cattle farming.
- Scientists can use the results for further research into animal welfare.
The "National Animal Welfare Monitoring" project has therefore developed guidelines for collecting indicators in beef cattle, dairy cow and calf husbandry. Guidelines and methodological manuals were also developed for collecting indicators during transport and slaughter, inspection and collection centres and carcass disposal.
In addition to the guidelines, an indicator database provides quick and easy access to information on individual indicators:
Literature database on animal welfare indicators (ktbl.de)
The significance and informative value of the individual indicators is illustrated in an initial model report.
Even though the foundation for the National Animal Welfare Monitoring has now been laid, further steps still need to be taken before the first results report is published. These include, for example, the creation of a legal basis and a suitable infrastructure. The project consortium has therefore drawn up a six-point plan for implementation.
Go to the National Animal Welfare Monitoring project website
Further information for download:
6-point plan for national animal welfare monitoring
Final report National Animal Welfare Monitoring
Survey guidelines for fattening cattle
Survey guidelines for dairy cow husbandry
Survey guidelines for calf husbandry
Survey guidelines for cattle slaughterhouses
Survey guidelines for cattle control centres
Cattle carcass disposal survey guide