F A R M A N I M A L

VO ICEYOUR MAGAZINE FROM COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING

VICTORYIssue 181 – Spring 2011

FOR DAIRY COWWELFARENocton Dairies withdrawplanning application

THE BIG MOVEEurope unites todefend the 2012battery cage ban

ARE WE ALWAYSWHAT WE EAT?Is higher welfare

healthier?

WALK WITHCOMPASSIONGet active forfarm animals

CAMPAIGNS THATMAKE A REALDIFFERENCEThank you

Editor Richard Brooks Production manager Sarah Bryan Design Neo – The Positive Change AgencyFarm Animal Voice Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1EZ, UKEnquiries Tel +44 (0)1483 521 953 (lines are manned Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm) Email supporters@ciwf.org

Compassion in World Farming is a registered charity (England), registered number 1095050.

Our PatronsBishop John Baker, Alexandra Bastedo, Jilly Cooper OBE, Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan, Penelope Keith OBE,Bruce Kent, Joanna Lumley OBE, Sir Peter O’Sullevan CBE, Jonathon Porritt CBE, Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO

FARM ANIMAL VOICECONTENTS

I S S U E 1 8 1

UPDATE4 News Headlines from around

the world

INSIGHT8 The BigMove European campaign

to keep the 2012 battery cage ban

12 Higher welfare = healthier foodAre we always what we eat?

14 The cost of foodWhat has it gotto do with factory farming?

INSPIRATION18 Mary Mead

A voice of optimism

21 Paying tribute

ACTION10 Campaigning to make a di<erence

People power that stops cruelty

16 Give as You Live22 Supporter round-up and

fundraising ideas for the summer

Front cover photograph © Image Source

8

14 18

22

WHATPRICE

FACTORYFARMING

?

3ciwf.org

Firstly, I would like to say a huge thankyou to everyone who believes in

Compassion in World Farming and thework we do to end factory farming. Asyou will see in this issue, we really are

making a huge difference to the lives offarm animals, everywhere.

The last twelve months have beenincredibly busy, and the coming year

looks set to be just as challenging, withongoing dialogue and new campaignsplanned to ensure that all farm animalsare properly protected from factory

farming cruelty.

We hope this issue of Farm Animal Voiceinspires you to tell your friends and familyabout the difference you are making – to

animals, people and the planet.

So, once again, thank you for yourcontinued support, together we are

crossing out factory farming, one crueltyat a time.

Philip LymberyChief Executive

P.S. With summer on its way, there’s notime like now to get out and about,raising money and awareness for

Compassion – see page 22 for some funfundraising ideas!

6 VICTORY FOR DAIRY COWWELFARENocton Dairies withdraw

planning application for 'mega dairy'.

My personal blog is available at:acompassionateworld.org

or you can follow me on Twitter:twitter.com/philip_ciwf

WELCOME

COVER STORY

6

CANYOU OFFER A HOME?The RSPCA needs suitable homes for all varieties

of rescued or abandoned farm animals.

If you think you could provide a home, pleasecontact the RSPCA at

sswfarm@rspca.org.uk

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTEDTHIS CAMPAIGN AND AGREES THAT

'COWS BELONG IN FIELDS'.

U P D A T E

To our dismay, live exports fromthe UK have resumed after manymonths. Defra has confirmed thatsince December, there have been8 sailings of animals to continentalEurope. These sailings includesheep, pigs and unweaned calves.Some of these unweaned calveshave been sent on horrendouslylong journeys to Spain.

Compassion in World Farming istotally opposed to this resumptionof the notorious live export trade.The export of British sheep tocontinental abattoirs often involvesimmense suffering both on thelong journeys and then at slaughter,which is often carried out in breachof EU welfare rules.

We urge Britains’s sheep farmers toabandon this inhumane live trade.Sheep farmers are heavilysubsidised by the taxpayer and, ifthey wish to continue receiving

these subsidies, they must beresponsive to legitimate publicopposition to the live export trade.

Compassion’s Chief Executive,Philip Lymbery, commented:“There is no justification fortrading unweaned animals onextraordinarily long journeys.They are likely to be reared inconditions inferior to those of theUK. As for sheep, this underlinesthe nonsensical nature of the liveexport trade; there simply is noreason why animals can’t beslaughtered in their country ofrearing and the carcases exportedto wherever they are wanted. Afterall, carcases don’t suffer; liveanimals can, and often do.”

Compassion will be lobbyingvigorously and doing all we canto ensure that this inhumanetrade is ended for good.

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NETHERLANDS PLANTO BAN DOUBLEDECKER CATTLETRUCKSThe Netherlands government hasannounced plans to ban double-deckertrucks for transporting cattle aged oneyear old and over. Investigations andinspections have found serious welfareproblems for cattle in these trucks. Forexample, cattle sustained serious backinjuries because the roof of the truck wastoo low. The Netherlands imports andexports millions of animals every year.

Geert Laugs, head of CIWF Netherlands,said: "We welcome this move to improveanimal welfare during transport. Thesetrucks were shown to cause needlessanimal suffering. Other European UnionMember States should urgently follow thispositive move."

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COMPASSION INFRANCEIn February this year, Compassion inWorld Farming hosted an exhibitionstand at the annual Salon del’Agriculture in Paris for the second yearrunning. The event proved to be anothersuccess, spreading Compassion’smessage about higher welfare chickenand eggs to 678,700 visitors over 9 daysof exhibition. Our presence generatedsignificant media coverage, featuring onfour of the main national radio stations,including RTL which has the biggestaudience in France.

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Barren battery cages are due to be outlawed across the European Union (EU)from 1 January 2012. Despite the 12 years that producers have had to getrid of this archaic system, some are still trying to get a postponement of theban. Compassion was delighted when, at a 21st February meeting of the EUAgriculture Council, the majority of EU ministers rejected a proposal to delaythe ban. The UK was amongst the governments who called for the ban tocome into force on 1 January 2012 without delay.

At the meeting, Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the UK'sDepartment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, emphasised thatdelaying the ban would be “enormously unfair to all the poultry keepers inthe UK and other countries around Europe who have worked so hard tostop using battery cages.”

This outcome is very encouraging for the millions of hens kept in barrenbattery cages across the EU, and bears testimony to the thousands ofCompassion supporters who have already taken action for hens in "TheBig Move" campaign. But we cannot afford to become complacent.Some EU member states are still lobbying for a postponement of theban, and so the campaign continues.

Read more about Compassion's campaign to defend The Big Movefor battery hens on page 8.

SOWSTALLS TOBE PHASEDOUT IN SOUTHAFRICAIn January 2011, following intense lobbying by Compassion in WorldFarming in South Africa, the South African Pork Producers’Organisation (SAPPO) agreed to phase out the use of sow stalls. Thereare currently around 100,000 breeding sows in South Africa, who givebirth to around 40,000 young pigs to be reared for slaughter eachweek in the country.

Compassion South Africa is now pressing SAPPO to commit to a firmdate of 2017 for a complete end to the use of these cruel stalls.

The UK’s number 1 cake brand has gonefree range across its entire range! MrKipling, one of the flagship brands ofPremier Foods, has made the fantasticmove to use only free-range eggs.

Compassion’s Food Business team hasbeen in dialogue with Premier Foods since2009 when we awarded their brandsQuorn and Ormo with Good Egg Awards.For the last 12 months, we have beenworking withMr Kipling Cakes, discussingthe possibilities of them going free-range.

This is a major move in terms of layinghen welfare:Mr Kipling uses 60 millioneggs a year in their cakes and slices,so we estimate this decision will benefitaround 200,000 animals every year.

Mr Kipling's egg buying team has workedclosely with suppliers to ensure theprovenance and sustainable supply oftheir free-range eggs. We will continue toencourage Premier Foods to roll out free-range eggs across all their brands over thecoming years.

The new cakes are in stores now so lookout for the ‘Beryl the free-range hen’mark on packs.

Mr Kipling has also launched its own‘Egg-ceedingly Good Egg Award’ torecognise the nation’s most thoughtfulpeople.

If you would like to nominate thosethoughtful people in your life whose smallacts of kindness and good deeds make areal difference and bring a smile to theface of others then please visitmrkipling.co.uk

Compassion is pleased to announcethat Mr Kipling will receive a 2011Good Egg Award for its compassionfor laying hens.

EGG-CEEDINGLYGOODWELFARE

EUROPE'S MINISTERS DEFENDTHE BATTERY CAGE BAN

VICTORYFORDAIRYCOWWELFARE

A C T I O N

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February 16th 2011 was a very good day for cows – it was the day Nocton Dairies withdrewtheir application for a mega-dairy intended to house 3,770 cows indoors for most of their lives.

Compassion’s year-long campaign owes much to our supporters, who respondedenthusiastically and in great numbers to help us fight the threat of ‘mega-dairies’ in the UK.

Our Nocton Campaign Manager, Pat Thomas, reports on the build up to this groundbreaking day.

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A LOCAL AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGNWe worked closely to provide support and informationto Nocton’s local campaign group CAFFO (CampaignAgainst Factory Farming Operations). Compassion isinspired by CAFFO’s sheer grit and determination. OfCompassion, CAFFO’s Deborah Wilson says:"It's not just advice, expertise and financialsupport that have been so invaluable to us;we've had a shoulder we can cry on whenit all gets too much and I don't knowhow we would have coped withoutCompassion in World Farmingtaking such a leading role inthis campaign."

BEHIND THE SCENESCompassion’s battle againstNocton was a very public affaircovered widely in the mediabut we had the assistance of an expert teamhelping us to ensure that our case would hold up at thehighest levels. Our legal team consisted of solicitor AlistairHenry (top) and barrister Robert Turral-Clarke (left), bothexperts in planning law and supporters of Compassion.

Emma Booker (right) coordinated the input of AtkinsInternational – world-renowned environmental analysts.Together, they helped shape Compassion’s extraordinarilydetailed – and watertight – 120-page objection to theNocton Dairies proposal.

WATCH THIS SPACEThe Nocton mega dairy proposal has sparked animportant debate about how we address the economicissues faced by many dairy farmers. Our work, movingforward, will be to engage with farmers, government,retailers, dairy processors, and other crucial stakeholdersto construct a vision for the future of dairy farming thatis more sustainable than thousands of exhausted cows ingiant sheds. We will keep you posted on future events.In the meantime let’s celebrate and acknowledge thissmall step towards what will hopefully be a permanentvictory for cows and dairy farmers in the UK.

Make no mistake, the campaign of Compassion and itsallies has demonstrated the strength of feeling that existsin the UK. But we will remain vigilant, particularly asNocton Dairies themselves have suggested that we‘watch this space’.

•More than 5,500 campaign actions taken byCompassion supporters.

• An unprecedented 16,000 objections were lodgedagainst the planning application – so many, thatadditional staff were recruited by North KestevenDistrict council to handle them.

•More than 160 MPs rejected the industrialisationof dairy farming.

• Compassion cites Nocton application to Secretary ofState as a matter of national importance.

• 16th February 2011: Nocton Dairies withdrawsplanning application for ‘mega-dairy’.

• 18th February 2011: District Council Officers publiclyadmit that had the application gone ahead, they werealready minded to refuse it on grounds such as risk topublic water supply, the impact of noise and smell, riskto environment and concerns over threats to localwildlife. Many of these issues had already featured inCompassion’s public campaign and official submission.

• 18th February 2011: Compassion writes to Defra,urging for a dedicated forum consisting of thegovernment, dairy farmers, supermarkets and animalwelfare and environmental groups to discuss the wayforward for dairy farming in the UK.

– CAMPAIGN IMPACT –

“Wow that is amazing news!Thank God for that. Just imaginehow many cows have been saved

from a life of misery.”Nicki White

“Well done guys!Wonderful work!”

Lucy Foster

“This is wonderful news! Welldone CIWF. We must watch this

space and make sure they don't tryto sneak in by some hidden loophole. But for now... HOORAY !”

Marilyn Niebauer

“People Power!”Maria Dyer

“Well done Compassion and all theothers who helped prevent this.”

Jacob Sanders

“Hurrah!!! The campaigningworked! Thanks CIWF for the partthat you played in putting a stop

to the mega dairy :)”Suze Collins

“This sends a potent message:Never underestimate the

awesome collective power ofhuman compassion at work!”

Isabella Calabrese Schlögl

“That is the most brilliant news.But yes, let's make sure they, or

someone else, don’t pushsomething similar through

in the future.”Paul Jenkins

“A great result –power to the people!! :)”

Jackie Hickey

“So pleased. All the pressure,emails, letters, official lodgedobjections, phone calls... it justgoes to show that these things

really pay off. Xxx”Sarah Anne Williams-Baker

AVERY SOCIAL CAMPAIGNAs news broke on 16th February that Nocton Dairies had withdrawn their application, Compassion’s Facebook pages werealive with emotional reactions from supporters and fans of our campaign. Here is a selection of what people said on the day:

If you would like to join our growing vocal community on Facebook, please visit facebook.com/farm.animalsThank you to everyone who agrees that Cows Belong in Fields.

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THIS COW SCULPTURE IS MADE ENTIRELY FROM OLD FARM TOOLSBY THE CHILDREN OF NOCTON SCHOOL.

A C T I O N

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The long-awaited 2012 ban on barren battery cages is under threat –Compassion in World Farming is rallying campaigners across Europe to defend

‘The Big Move’ towards a more humane future for laying hens.

In 1999, animal welfare supportersacross the European Union joinedCompassion in celebrating a landmark

victory for farm animals: following yearsof dedicated campaigning, the EU agreedto ban the use of barren battery cages foregg-laying hens. From 1 January 2012,none of the 360 million hens reared inthe EU each year should be allowed tosuffer in a barren battery cage.

But now, with less than one year to gountil it comes into force, this historicpiece of legislation is under threat.

Egg producers have had 12 years toprepare for this ban, yet some are stillcalling for delays and exemptions. Thiswould mean hens continuing to sufferextreme physical and psychologicalstress in barren cages.

With the support of our coalition ofanimal welfare organisations, theEuropean Network for Farm AnimalProtection (ENFAP), Compassion is tellingdecision-makers across the EU that therecan be no excuses, no exemptions andno delays. Our newly-launched defendThe Big Move campaign has alreadymobilised tens of thousands ofsupporters to send emails to the UK,Italian, Spanish and Polish governments.This has helped ensure that Poland iscurrently the only EU member stateofficially calling for a postponement. Butother countries could still follow suit, sowe need all your support – and yourfamily and friends – to ensure that TheBig Move really happens – and on time!

TAKE ACTIONPlease help usmake thisthe last Easter in barrenbattery cages for

European hens – sendthe enclosed campaignpostcard to the Presidentof the EUAgricultureCouncil, urging him toreject attempts byPoland or others topostpone or weaken

the ban.

A EUROPEANCAMPAIGNENFAP is a coalition ofanimal welfare groupsspanning 25 countriesacross Europe. This networkhas allowed The Big Move campaign tospread far beyond the UK, to memberstates including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany,Greece, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovakiaand Sweden.

With your ongoing support,Compassion’s influence in Europe willbe further strengthened in the comingyears as we open new campaignoffices in France, Italy and Poland.

EGG PRODUCERS HAVE HAD 12 YEARS TO GET READY FORTHE BARREN BATTERY CAGE BAN; EUROPE'S HENS DON'T

DESERVE DELAYS OR EXCUSES.

Photo©

EileenGroom

e

SUCCESS!COWS BELONG IN FIELDS

A C T I O N

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CAMPAIGNS THATMAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE

Michèle Danan, Compassion’s Public ACairs Manager, rounds up our campaign activitiesover the last five months – and the positive impact we are making together. Overall, more than60,000 supporters have sent more than 70,000 emails to key politicians in the UK and Europe.

Thank you everyone who has taken part so far.

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CLONING = CRUELTYWe continue to lobby the UK and the EU toban the sale of meat or dairy from clonedanimals or their descendants. Although theEU Parliament is so far standing firmagainst cloning, it is under pressure fromEU Agriculture Ministers to compromise.

Timeline:

• August 2010: 50 David Cameronclones deliver petition to DowningStreet

• January 2011: 1,700 letters sent toMEPs to urge their support for the ban

• TODAY: EU talks continue, ongoingsupport needed.

In February 2011, Compassion hears thatNew Zealand’s leading research centre hasabandoned its cloning research as so manycloned farm animals were suffering anddying. How much more proof do we needto persuade the UK government thatcloning must be stopped NOW? We stillreally need your help on this campaign.

To take action online, please go tociwf.org.uk/cloningmep

The day that Nocton Dairies withdrew their application for amega-dairy intended to house 3,770 cows indoors was a fantasticday for cows!

See page 6 for the full story.

The nice thing about teamwork is thatyou always have others on your side.

Margaret Carty, author

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DEFEND THE BIG MOVEBarren Battery Cage Ban 2012

This campaign has so far made a major difference to the positions of theUK and other EU governments in the bid to ensure that this landmarklegislation prevails. With your help we have collectedover 18,500 petition signaturesurging the UK Departmentof Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs (Defra)to support the ban infull. Compassion hasofficially requested a meetingwith Defra Minister CarolineSpelman in order to deliverthese signatures.

To take action online,please visitthebigmove.org and seepage 8 for our campaignstory and the difference youcan help make in Europe.

BARRENBATTERY CAGESTHE BAN STARTSJAN 2012

DEFEND THE

BIG MOVE

Will anyoneget us outof here?

Yes, more than

20,000 Compassion

activists are already

working on it

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PETITIONWELFARE OFMEAT CHICKENSOur aim is to highlight the terrible welfare problems of meat chickensdue to fast growth rates.

Timeline:

• 7th February 2011: Petition with 12,500 signatures from Germanyand the UK handed to EU Commissioner John Dalli.

• Commissioner subsequently commits to taking proper accountof the European Food SafetyAuthority’s scientific opinion.

• Official EU reaction is duein 2012.

PETITIONINHUMANE SLAUGHTERIN SOUTH KOREA

The deeper issue behind this disturbingstory is international trade. This isdesigned to penalise countries financiallyif they vaccinate for Foot and MouthDisease (FMD). This is why there is oftena knee-jerk reaction of mass killing offarm animals with disastrousconsequences for animal welfare. Thehumane way to deal with FMD is tovaccinate on a preventative basis.

Timeline:

• 7th January 2011: Reports of liveburial of pigs due to Foot and MouthDisease outbreak

• 10th January: Compassion respondswith 6,000 letters to the SouthKorean Ambassador

• 11th January: Vaccinations soughtand bought by Korean authorities

• 1 week later: Authorities claim thatin future all animals will be destroyedhumanely

We believe that factory farming is the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet.Tackling cruelty on such a scale needs something remarkable.You.

Together,we are taking step after step towards a more humane and sustainable world.Thank you for your help.

Compassion’s Peter Stevenson (right)hands over 12,500 signatures to

improve chicken welfare toCommissioner Dalli (centre).

Whether it’s free-range or organic, we all know that choosing ‘ethically’ produced meatand dairy can benefit farm animals. But what about the health benefits for those of usthat consume these products – a question that Compassion supporters often ask.

Is it a case of better for animals, good for people?Here is some food for thought...

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I N S I G H T

ARE WE ALWAYS WHAT WE EAT?WHY HIGHER WELFARE FOOD IS GOODFOR ANIMALS AND BETTER FOR US

ORGANIC MILK – THE BENEFITSOF PASTUREDairy cows that graze on pasturegenerally live healthier and longer lives.Thankfully, these are the conditionsrequired by law for organically-farmeddairy cows.

In January this year, a new study byNewcastle University confirmed thatorganic supermarket milk can containhigher levels of nutritionally beneficialfatty acids, including Omega-3, comparedwith ‘ordinary’ milk. This study cites thefact that organic farming methodsencourage grazing on red and whiteclover, which appears to alter the fattyacid intake and composition of milk.

In the UK, the cost of choosing organicmilk over standard milk is likely to bearound 15 pence per pint. The impact onanimal welfare can be significant and itlooks increasingly certain that there is ameaningful benefit to human health too.

FREE-RANGE CHICKEN – SPACETO THRIVEFree-range chickens are givencontinuous access to an outdoor rangeduring the daytime and sheds wherethey are housed at night. Free-rangechickens also generally grow moreslowly than intensively-farmed

chickens. In organic systems, chickensare also free-range and the animals areeven slower growing with even morespace allocated to each bird. Organicchickens generally grow at around halfthe rate of intensive chickens.

One study compared the protein andfat content of organic and intensivechickens. Organic chickens were foundto have 25% less fat than intensivelyreared chickens while intensively farmedchickens contained nearly 40% more fatthan protein.

The story doesn’t just end at the fatcontent either. Intensive productiondepends on the use of antibiotics. Thewidespread use of antibiotics in intensivepoultry farming increases the risk ofpeople suffering from antibiotic-resistantinfections. Although the over-use ofantibiotics in human medicine is themajor cause of the current problems,public-health experts are agreed that theover-use and misuse of antibiotics inintensive animal production is also animportant factor.

According to The Lance ArmstrongFoundation, purchasing organic chickencan ensure that you and your family arenot ingesting unnecessary antibiotics thatmay lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.

By choosingorganic milk,you can cutsaturatedfats by 30-50percent andstill get thesame intakeof beneficialfatty acids.

Gillian Butler, Study LeaderNewcastle University

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For people who consume dairy or meat,this brief article highlights some of thepositive health impacts of buying ethicallyproduced meat and dairy products.Compassion is focussed on endingfactory farming because it is the biggestcause of animal cruelty on the planet.However the more we look, the more weare starting to understand the detrimentalimpact of factory farming on people.

Compassion is calling for a total re-think offactory farming policy. By daring to dreamof an end to such wide-scale cruelty, webelieve that the impact on human healthmay also be profound. Without factoryfarming we would no longer need to feedhalf the world’s antibiotics to farm animals.With one billion overweight people andanother billion starving, imagine howmuch better off our species will be whenwe all consume a more balanced diet withmore of the world’s crops helping feed ourgrowing population.

Compassion believes in a worldwithout factory farming. With yoursupport, we can make it a reality.

WE AREWHATWE EATHELPS RETAILERSPROMOTE HIGHWELFAREMuch of our work with food businesseshinges on building a strong commercialcase for higher-welfare products. Whilethe majority of consumers empathisewith animal welfare, it can easily becomea distant or secondary considerationwhen faced with a multitude of choices,labels and pressure to stay within theweekly shopping budget. We thereforeneed to find other arguments to bringhigh-welfare products back to the frontof consumers’ minds.

Recent research conducted by Compassionindicates that ‘health’ resonates powerfullywhen talking about higher-welfare food –it’s easy to make the link between betterquality meat, eggs and milk and the healthbenefits for us. In other words, ‘we arewhat we eat’ is a powerful message.

Compassion’s Food Business team hasbeen exploring this idea with some ofthe largest food companies in Europe,many of which are interested in takingit further. Watch this space.

ORGANIC CHICKENS CAN HAVE 25% LESS FATTHAN INTENSIVELY REARED CHICKENS

I N S I G H T

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WHATPRICE

FACTORYFARMING

?

Photo©

Cam

eronM

cEwan

/Neo

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World food prices surged to a new peak early in 2011, raising supermarket prices and putting pressureon our wallets. Wheat prices alone have doubled since June last year. This price rise is contributing toa continued increase in the number of people in the developing world who go to bed hungry at night.

Why are food prices so volatile? How does all of this relate to factory farming?

In many developed countries, risingfood prices are an inconvenience formany, and much more significant for

those on low incomes. In poorerdeveloping countries, price rises of staplefoods can be catastrophic. Not only dopeople go hungry, the impacts can befelt for a generation. The 2008 foodprice rise saw a big increase in thenumber of malnourished children, withresulting damage to their longer termphysiological and mental development.

WHAT AFFECTS THE WORLD’SFOOD PRICES?Many factors contribute to recent risesin the price of food. Droughts and floodshave devastated some harvests andaccording to the World DevelopmentMovement, banks, hedge funds andpension funds can also have a drasticimpact. Betting on food prices in thefinancial markets can cause drastic priceswings in staple foods such as wheat,maize and soy. Much of the world’s grainharvest now goes into biofuel productionin attempts to make energy and transport“greener”. Finally, as countries developand urban middle classes grow, there isincreasing demand from countries (suchas China) for more food in general andmore animal products in particular.

This last factor is particularly crucial tothe rising cost of food.

FACTORY FARMING: AT THE ROOTOF THE PROBLEMCurrently over a third of all cereals grownin the world are used to feed animalsrather than people. Over 90% of soya isgrown primarily to supply the animalfeed sector. If we could reduce thedemand from the animal feed sector,then common sense – and scientificevidence – tells us there would be anincrease in availability of wheat, maizeand soy for humanity’s needs.

Over half of the world’s pigs and overtwo thirds of poultry are now factoryfarmed. These intensively farmedanimals are reared in systems that aredependent on cereal and soya feeds forfast growth and high yield. Althoughdairy cows, being ruminants, arenaturally adapted to grazing and eatinggrasses, they are now being bred to bemore dependent on cereal and soyafeeds too, with less and less reliance ongrazing – all in order to increase milkyields. Even in the UK, Compassion hasbeen campaigning against plans forthousands of cows to be kept withminimal or no access to grass (see page6 for an update on our campaign).

WHY THE WORLD NEEDSCOMPASSION IN WORLD FARMINGClimate change, speculation anddemographics may all be playing a partin driving up world food prices but amajor factor is the increase in meat anddairy consumption fuelled by factoryfarming with its insatiable demand forcereals and soya. Early action to tacklethis trend could yield immediate tangiblebenefits for everyone, including theworld’s poorest.

Now that we have formal ‘liaison status’with the United Nation’s Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO),Compassion is today in a strongerposition than ever to share our vision ofa world that has moved ‘beyond factoryfarming’. This vision has never beenso urgent – factory farming representsthe biggest cause of animal cruelty on theplanet and is now causing untold miseryto millions of the world’s poorest people.

With your support, we will use everyargument available to bring about aglobal change in the way we feed ourspecies. The lives of billions of animalsand people hang in the balance.

Keeping animalsindoors, often in

barren and crowdedsheds, and feedingthem crops thatpeople could eatsimply does notmake sense in aworld wracked withpoverty and hunger.It takes 20kg of feedto produce 1kg ofedible beef, over7kg of feed for

1kg of edible porkand 4.5kg for 1kgof edible chicken.

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As individuals, we can alsoplay our part by reducingour own meat and dairyconsumption and buyingonly higher welfare organicor free-range products.

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HIGHER WELFAREIN HIGHER EDUCATION

A C T I O N

The Compassion in World Farming Food Business team is working closely withuniversities and catering companies around the UK to increase the uptake

of higher welfare food sold on campus.

THE NEXT GENERATION OFCOMPASSIONATE CONSUMERSAccording to a recent survey by theNational Union of Students, UK studentsare prepared to boycott a range ofproducts, especially non-fair tradeproducts and those that are not free-range (factory farmed chicken andbattery cage eggs in particular). Ethicsand animal welfare go hand-in-hand foruniversity students, but given the currenteconomic climate, so does price.

HIGHERWELFARE AT NO EXTRA COSTThe University of Winchester hasdeveloped an innovative approachby maintaining free-range, or higherwelfare, as the minimum standard acrosseggs, chicken, dairy and pork products –without raising prices. The key is tobalance both portion size and the cutsof meat in each dish and increase theamount of vegetables per meal. Thisapproach arguably provides a healthieroffering for students and a better dealfor farm animals.

Oxford Brookes University has alsochampioned higher welfare food and hasteamed up with suppliers Chartwells and

Compass Group to provide value formoney, higher welfare choices. OxfordBrookes was also the venue forCompassion’s very first UniversityGood Farm Animal Welfare Awards inNovember 2010. Through this inauguralevent, Compassion has been able torecognise the efforts of 17 institutions fortheir higher welfare purchasing decisions.

COMPASSION AT THE FOREFRONTOF FOOD BUSINESSThe University awards also provided animportant opportunity for Compassionto link up with more forward-thinkinguniversities and global caterers such asCompass Group and Sodexo.

We aim to celebrate even more ‘GoodUniversities’ who are at the forefront ofsupporting higher welfare food in thefuture. In years to come, our aim isthat all further and higher educationestablishments will provide students withaffordable, healthier and above all,higher welfare food.

Your continued support will enablethis work to continue. Thank you forhelping us make higher welfare foodthe standard, not the exception.

ISYOUR LOCAL UNIVERSITY HIGHWELFARE?

To date, Compassion has awarded the following institutions for their decisions to sell higher welfare food:

Good Egg Award Winners: Eton College • Oxford Brookes University • Amersham & Wycombe College • Imperial CollegeUniversity of Sussex • London School of Economics • University of Winchester • University of Portsmouth • Kingston UniversityBirkbeck College • Roehampton University • Middlesex University • Farnborough College • International Students HouseCity University • University of Westminster • Queen Mary University • University College London • Uxbridge CollegeRoyal Veterinary College • Royal Holloway University • Cass Business School • University of Greenwich • Goldsmiths College

Good Chicken Award Winners: University of Portsmouth • University of Winchester • Oxford Brookes University

Over26,000 animals

are setto benefiteach yearbecause ofthe combinedcommitmentsof our awardwinninguniversities

*The Student Lifestyle Report, 2010, NUS Services Ltd.

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I N S P I R A T I O N

Thoughts from a day spent with 2008 Farmer of the Year and founder of Yeo Valley Organic

– A VOICE OF OPTIMISM –MARY MEAD

Over recent months, Compassion has becomeincreasingly concerned by the trend towardsfurther intensification of dairy farming, both here

in the UK and further afield. We believe that confiningpasture animals indoors for the majority of their lives inso called ‘mega-dairies’ breaks the connection betweenlivestock farming and the land. It is extremely refreshingtherefore to meet leading farmers such as Mary Meadwho have an alternative vision for the future of thedairy industry.

It’s a typical spring day as I travel along the windingMendips roads to meet award-winning organic dairyfarmer Mary Mead and I’m greeted on arrival with apicturesque view of the sun reflecting off the lakebordering much of her farmland.

I can see why you would choose to live here. Mary hasfarmed here for five decades and her late husband’sfamily can trace its farming roots in the area back to the1400s. Mary welcomes me through to her study, hometo volumes of weighty cow breed books and a British

Friesian cow model – the breed that makes up her twomilking herds.

GROWING PAINSI start by asking about her first experiences with farming.“I was very naïve, but my husband had been immersed infarming from a small child and he taught me so much.We started with egg production, buying day-old chicks,paid for with our wedding present money. After wemoved to the farm, we committed ourselves to theserious business of milk production, starting with 35cows. Grass grows well in this area and the dairy businessgradually expanded over the years.”

So was it the rural idyll that many might imagine?“Not at all! It was extraordinarily hard work. Fifty yearsago, we had to do so much ourselves – we’d farm in theday and build sheds at night. Thankfully my husband hadtremendous vision and physical energy.” The work hasclearly paid off – Mary now farms over 400 cows withyoungstock, beef and sheep across 1,200 acres of land.

MaryMead speaks to Richard Brooks,Compassion’s Director of Marketing

BEST IN BREEDAs we start to talk more generally about farming, Marycan’t help but come back to the issue of breed –something that she’s clearly passionate about. WhyBritish Friesian in particular though, I ask? “We haveheavy land and a high rainfall, and the British Friesianbreed, with its strong legs and feet, has proved the idealgrazing animal. It was the obvious choice for us – we’venever considered anything else! Their fertility is alsoparticularly good.” Another advantage of Mary’s Friesianherd is the fact that the male calves can be profitablyreared for beef off grass, avoiding the problems ofunwanted male dairy calves that can be faced byfarmers of animals that have been bred exclusively forhigh milk yields.

And it’s not just breed that drives Mary. Her highwelfare farm finally finished conversion to organicproduction with the opening of the Holt farm garden,meaning that no artificial fertilisers or pesticides arenow used. But it’s not altruism alone that drove thechange: “If the business case isn’t there, it simply isn’tfeasible. “Thankfully,” she continues, “the commercialcase stacks up. Yields have dropped slightly but arerising again as the cattle get used to a diet higher inforage. The cost of traditional oil-based fertilisers andpesticides is increasing for conventional farmers,improving our relative cost effectiveness.” With anongoing trend towards rising global oil and grain prices,Mary believes there may even come a time whenorganic production is simply more cost effective thanmore intensive, high input systems. “In any event it isa truly more sustainable system.”

So what’s her secret for success? “Farming is aboutpeople first and foremost”, she says. “You need a vision,and the determination and knowledge to get thingsdone. You’ve also got to be open-minded and do yourresearch. The secret of farming lies in the soil and beforewe went organic, we took further advice and investedin an aerator for our heavy clay-rich land. This hashelped tremendously.”

THE FUTURE FOR DAIRY FARMING“Politicians say that they are concerned about feeding agrowing population but dairying is very capital intensive.The threat of a change to CAP payments and the effectthat quota removal will have makes for uncertainty. Thereare so many unknowns in farming. How can you budgetaccurately if you don’t know what your costs are going tobe? Furthermore since the demise of the milk marketingboard, the industry has become fragmented with theresult that margins have been squeezed so that manyfarms are now under invested. It is precisely becauseof this uncertainty that my husband felt we should beutilising our own milk and the idea of yogurt from YeoValley was born.”

Despite her concerns, Mary is positive about theoutlook for UK dairy farming. “We have the right climatein the UK, particularly in the West Country, with lots ofrain to maximise pasture growth and reduce the costsof production.”

What seems to come through when speaking with Maryis the need to farm with the land, adapting approach andstyle to suit the conditions that nature has created. Maryis no starry-eyed idealist; she is keen to remind me thatany system must be profitable as well as ethical orsustainable. However, I am struck once more by thecontrast of Mary’s pragmatic long-term view with thosewho argue in favour of the short term techno-fixpresented by factory farming.

OUT AND ABOUTBefore I leave, I get the opportunity to see the fabledBritish Friesian herd. The unmistakably rich smell of silagelingers in the air, and it is great to see the animals in theirelement. I’m inspired by Mary’s knowledge andenthusiasm, which make her such a good advocate for herindustry (Mary also opens the farm up for school visits).

We need more people like her to help ensure ahumane, environmentally sustainable and profitabledairy industry, both for us and for future generations.

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FARMING IS ABOUT PEOPLE FIRST AND FOREMOST...YOU NEED AVISION,AND THE DETERMINATIONAND KNOWLEDGE TO GET THINGS DONE.

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Compassion and its work with food companies.Compassion’s Food Business team works closely with leading supermarkets, manufacturers and food servicecompanies to help them understand the complexities of the debate, work in positive partnership with farmers

like Mary and help consumers to make positive choices at the till.

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I N S P I R A T I O N

– BOOK REVIEW –VET ON CALL:MY FIRSTYEARAS AN OUT-OF-HOURS-VETBy Marc AbrahamPublished by Ebury Press, 2011RRP £6.99 (paperback)

Special discount for Compassion supporters: to receive a35% discount, please quote CIWF (code will expire on31st May 2011) when ordering online from rbooks.co.uk

TV vet, Marc Abraham, is a dedicated celebrity supporterof Compassion in World Farming. He co-presented ourGood Farm Animal Welfare Awards in 2010 and hasgiven his heartfelt support to our Cows Belong in Fieldscampaign through media interviews and attending ourWestminister event that persuaded MPs to take actionagainst mega dairies in the UK. Marc regularly appearson BBC Breakfast to give veterinary advice, is ITV’s ThisMorning’s resident vet and has been voted the UK’sfavourite vet by the British public.

This is Marc’s first book, which is available toCompassion supporters at a discount price, and is afascinating account of how he became a vet and thestories that still make him laugh and cry.

Marc Abraham writes guilelessly about his early mistakes,and the terror and joy involved in saving an animal’slife. His memoir is a heart-warming, compelling andthoroughly entertaining look at the life of a vet on call.

ANIMAL FACTORYBy David KirbyPublished by St Martin’s PressISBN-10: 0312380585RRP £18.99 (hardback)animalfactorybook.com

Animal Factory is an important book which follows theindividual stories of protest by families and communitiesin the USA whose lives were utterly changed by the arrivalof neighbouring factory farms.

A true story of both despair and hope, it details theterrible price paid by animals, people and theenvironment in the face of unregulated and powerfulcommercial and political interests. As the author,investigative journalist David Kirby, says: “Meat industrywealth is amassed at the cost of animal misery.”

The issues of confinement of animals, massive pollutionand health problems from contaminated air, land, waterand food are brought to life in the stories of the bravecampaigners.

Animal Factory gives yet more compelling evidence, ifit were needed, that there is no such thing as cheapmeat and milk. This is a vital read for anyone whothinks otherwise.

I N S P I R A T I O N

A GIFT IN MEMORY

Last October, our very own fundraiser Lucy Williams sadly passed awayafter a long illness. Lucy’s warmth, professionalism and passion for thecause remain an inspiration to all of us here at Compassion. Beforeshe died, Lucy asked that donations be made to Compassion in lieu

of flowers. Her family and friends raised an incredible £3,136in Lucy’s name, every penny of which is now being used to improve

the lives of farm animals.

Giving a gift to Compassion in memory of a loved one is somethinganyone can do. Each gift is a positive way to honour and remember alife whilst funding our vital work to end the suffering of farm animals

around the world.

Many people choose to make a donation to Compassion in World Farmingto honour the life of someone who cared about farm animals

during their lifetime.

COMPASSIONATE TRIBUTE FUNDS

A Compassionate Tribute Fund is another very special way to celebrate the life of someone you treasure.It is a permanent and growing tribute that acts as a focus for friends and family to record memories of that person

whilst raising money for Compassion’s work in their honour.

For more information about giving a gift in memory or about setting up a Compassionate Tribute Fund,please telephone our legacy team on 01483 521 953 during office hours or visit ciwf.org/inmemory

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Compassionate Dorset also designand print their own, inspiring t-shirtsto promote farm animal welfare andraise funds for Compassion.

Originally worn to promote theirevents, the t-shirts were featuredin February 2011’s issue of glossymagazine, Cosmopolitan. Youcan buy the t-shirts direct fromCompassionate Dorset atcompassionatedorset.co.ukand raise money for Compassionat the same time.

COMPASSION & FASHION

In trying to find new ways topromote farm animal welfare,Compassion supporters Anna,Sandra and Stu started up a localgroup, Compassionate Dorset,in 2009.

Since then, they’ve been activelyspreading Compassion’s messagearound Dorset by organising ‘BigLunch’ picnics and ‘Come Dine withMe’-style dinner parties.

We've had a great response fromthe public who do care about farmanimal welfare but would just likemore information about farm animalwelfare issues. Our main aim is toraise awareness and show peoplehow they can make a real difference,even just by their food shopping

choices.We feel it's really importantto get Compassion's message to aswide an audience as possible, so wesend press releases to local press,and also use the internet – we haveover 400 followers on Twitter – follow

us on @Compassionately

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Meet Compassionate Dorset – Catherine,Becky, Anna, Stu and Christine

INTRODUCING LOCAL GROUP

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Sunday 17 April

Join our new Change for Changefundraiser in a town near you. Weneed you to help us drive changefor farm animals by raising fundsand awareness for our DEFEND THEBIG MOVE campaign in your localarea. Get in touch to find out howyou can get involved or visitciwf.org/changeforchange

SKY DIVEWITH COMPASSION

June

Our longest serving Compassion

trustee, Jeremy Hayward, worked

personally with our founder Peter

Roberts many years ago. Jeremy is

so passionate about The Big Move

campaign, he is going to ‘fall off

his perch’ in a sky dive this June to

raise money for us (and his local

charity White Eagle Lodge). Please

show your support by sponsoring

Jeremy’s two mile high leap on

justgiving.com/jeremyskydive

LONDON MARATHON

Sunday 17 April

Taking the fundraising lead this

summer is Compassionate Dorset

member, Sandra Hood, who is

running the legendary London

marathon. Come and cheer her

on with us on the day or help her

raise funds in aid of Compassion

by visitingjustgiving.com/sandrahood

WALKWITHCOMPASSIONSaturday 7 MayGetting sponsored to stamp outfactory farming couldn’t be easier!Take part in our 10km walkingchallenge across the Surrey downsor create an event to suit you. Visitciwf.org/walk for a freeinformation pack.

Alternatively, you can take theeasier route by sponsoring TeamCompassion as they Walk withCompassion across the SouthDowns atjustgiving.com/teamcompassion

GET IN TOUCHFor more information about anyof these events, Local Groups nearyou or to share your fundraisingideas, contact Lisa in SupporterServices on:

Tel: 01483 521 953(9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)

Email: supporters@ciwf.orgVisit: ciwf.org/FUN

THE LONDONSUPERHERO RUNSunday 15 May

Be a farm animal hero and joinCompassion fundraisers as they raisemoney in this fun, sponsored 5kmrun in London. Or support our firstsuperhero runner Sarah Francis atdoitforcharity.com/SFrancis

DATES FOR YOUR DIARYIf you fancy getting active for farm animals, we have some exciting

fundraising events taking place around the UK for youto join in. Or, if you

prefer to make a diCerence while sitting on your sofa,why not sponsor some

of our summer fundraisers?

A regular monthly gift makes a world of difference to what we can achieve for farm animals.To set up a Direct Debit, please call Supporter Services on 0800 999 0101 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)

or visit ciwf.org/donate

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO CROSS OUT FACTORY FARMING.

Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1EZ, UKTel +44 (0)1483 521 953 Email supporters@ciwf.org Web ciwf.org

Compassion in World Farming is a registered charity (England), registered number 1095050.

THEVEAL CRATEAfter 30 years of public and political campaigningto ban the notorious veal crate, Compassion hashelped 5 million calves a year have a life worthliving – in the UK and across Europe.

THE BARREN BATTERY CAGEThe European ban on barren battery

cages is due to take eCect on1st January 2012. But some EU

countries and producers still want theban delayed. Please help us keep up thepressure to improve the welfare of

Europe’s egg laying hens.

TURNING BACK THE TIDEYour ongoing support for Compassionwill help keep the debate about food andfarm animal welfare alive – together wemust prevent the spread of intensive

factory farming worldwide.

ILLEGAL CRUELTYDespite winning an EU-wide ban to end

the routine tail docking and toothclipping of piglets, this law is still not

being enforced. Your continued supportwill enable us to keep investigating andexposing the illegal cruelty common in

many of Europe’s pig farms.

LET’S CROSS OUT ALL CRUELTY, FOR GOOD

T H A N K Y O U

THE SOW STALLCompassion’s investigations and lobbying have helpedto ensure that all of Europe’s 14 million sows will nolonger be confined in narrow stalls for most of theiradult life from 2013.

THE MEGA DAIRYIn February 2011, our ‘Cows Belong in Fields’campaigners celebrated as over 3,700 cows werespared from becoming the UK’s – and Europe’s –first ever indoor mega herd.

WE’RE CROSSING OUT FACTORY FARMINGONE CRUELTY AT A TIME