Livestock can be a source of great cultural pride and social status, and interviews with livestock producers show time and again how they want to care the best they can for their stock. Insufficient knowledge and inadequate resources and infrastructure often stand in their way.

Ways in which animal welfare in LMICs can be improved include:

1.           Promoting good animal health and husbandry

Measures to improve livestock management at community level can include communication, education and incentive-led initiatives, as well as improved access to animal health services. Community action, including the use of community animal health workers, is often an effective route to better animal welfare.

 

2.           Supporting integrated approaches to livestock production

Livestock production systems that consider animal welfare can benefit the environment. For example integrating trees with livestock keeping can offer conditions for animals to express important behaviours while benefiting biodiversity. Growing fodder trees benefits animals nutritionally and can reduce environmental erosion.

 

3.           Ensuring projects are welfare-sensitive

Including animal welfare assessment within research and development projects can help to monitor impacts of intervention over a shorter timeframe and identify target areas or secondary issues early.

 

4.           Supporting policy-led approaches to welfare

Welfare standards are being increasingly established in international trade standards and guidelines. However, a significant number of countries in Africa and Asia have no animal welfare legislation.