Farm animal welfare. Government moves on live exports positive, but more needs to be done.

The National Farmers’ Union estimates that in 2017 20,000 live sheep, but no live cattle, were exported to the European Union.  However, British Veterinary Association President John Fishwick has said: “Animals should be transported on the hook, as meat, not on the hoof, as live animals”.  Therefore the statement from Michael Gove that the Government is considering a ban on the live export of animals is welcome.

Be that as it may, in September of last year Farmers Weekly reported that, according to the British Veterinary Association, animal welfare standards are being unnecessarily lowered by a sharp rise in the slaughter of non-stunned animals. Gudrun Ravetz, BVA Senior Vice President, was quoted as saying: “This huge increase in the number of sheep, goats and poultry that are not stunned or not stunned effectively before slaughter is a grave concern to our profession.”  She went on to say that the number of halal slaughters had outstripped demand from the religious sector and is being sold to the general public unlabelled.

Obviously Michael Gove is moving in the right direction on farm animal welfare, but he should go further and ensure farm animals are effectively stunned before slaughter.  If he does not, at the very least he should ensure that religiously slaughtered meat is labelled as such.  When buying meat products consumers may wish to consider how it was prepared, and make an informed choice in the same way as they are able to do regarding organic food.

In a field in Dorsetshire during April.

Incidentally, as far as I am aware, the only party manifesto calling for an end both to farm animals being exported live and being religiously slaughtered is that of Anne Marie Waters’ For Britain Movement.  I somehow doubt that the Conservative or any other ‘liberal’ establishment party has the inclination or will to go that far.  

A view of the Dorsetshire countryside in April.