Building effective solutions for a sustainable and productive livestock sector: integrating efficiency,

sustainability and animal welfare.

Ottawa October 2013

Dr. Lesley Lambert

World Society for the Protection of Animals

• International presence: 17 offices in 15 countries

• Intergovernmental influence: Permanent representation on OIE animal welfare working group, Memorandum of Understanding with OIE; UN General Consultative status.

• Members of other governmental animal welfare advisory bodies in a range of countries e.g. UK Farm Animal Welfare Council

• Memoranda of Understanding with expert organisations e.g. China Veterinary Medical Association

• Developing our corporate programme. Focus: positive long term engagement on shared interests

The Value Of Engagement

1. Developing robust evidence of win-win scenarios

2. Working with major agribusiness to make change, on the ground

3. Building case studies of practical solutions

4. Shaping the environment in which we work – pragmatic integration

5. Communicating the point of difference

What WSPA can offer

1. Technical knowledge and expertise and links to research

2. Constructive corporate collaboration3. WSPA’s track record in designing and

delivering innovations with industry4. Engagement with international

mechanisms5. Strong positive communications

focus

Challenges

4

Farm animal welfare: good for people, business and greater sustainability

Economics, business, livelihood

Public health

Sufficient and safe food production

Water, land and natural resources

Environment Animal welfare in

food production

5

Farm animal welfare: good for people, business and greater sustainability

Economics, business, livelihood

Public health

Sufficient and safe food production

Water, land and natural resources

Environment Animal welfare in

food production

Food security: can good welfare systems deliver?

• Animal welfare and productivity can go hand in hand• Business as usual will bring challenges for food security• It is possible to increase consumption where needed to ensure nutrition,

especially if sustainable diets increase the operating space elsewhereErb et al 2009, 2011

Blue and grey water footprint of beef and pork

• Water footprint efficiency is counterintuitive – intensive is not more efficient

• Demand for blue water, and grey water output, are major factors in assessing environmental impact of livestock production

• Grazed beef has much higher green water input, but lower pact on blue and grey water; no increases efficiency for blue and grey water in industrial pork production

Gerbens-Leenes, Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2011) UNESCO-IHE

Animal welfare improvements benefit greenhouse gas efficiency – up to 10%

Linking herd parameters, animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions

What are the consequences of dairy intensification and zero grazing for the whole picture of dairy?

Including dairy beef in the model

The bigger picture: intensification creates greenhouse gas inefficiencies

Welfare and livelihoods: Pasture based dairy – LELBREN, Kenya

Animal welfare integral to the system of production

Why pasture:• To boosting yields – attempted zero grazing but….• Artificial insemination services unreliable • Lack of breed choice and pedigree records • High operational costs • Supplementary feeds unavailable• Poor health and infertility of the dairy cows – fast turnover and replacement

Now: Crossbreeds, healthier, more resilient to local environmental conditionsPasture – low cost, low labour, more reliableAbility to boost production in within a low input systemBetter animal welfare

Good for animal welfare, highly sustainable, sound livelihoods

Why pasture?

Good animal welfare can deliver better livelihoods

• Optimal yields are truly sustainable

• Enabling pasture farmers to succeed requires action:

• Infrastructure, vet services, marketing

• Policy reflects the value of pasture based agriculture

• E.g. Global agenda, COP implementation

• Research programme priority

• Reflects real resource use and impact (LCAs and co-products

• Wider implications for animal welfare, environment, livelihoods

Agenda Consensus

“Integrating respect for socially desirable outcomes that are not the immediate focus of Agenda related activities including, but not limited to, public health, biodiversity and animal welfare”

Principles underpinning animal welfare assessment

Five freedoms

• Pain Injury and Disease

• Hunger and thirst

• Shelter

• Fear and distress

• Natural behaviour

Broadly supported

(OIE etc.)

Welfare Quality

Four main principles:

• Good feeding

• Good housing

• Good health

• Appropriate behaviour

Scientific body of knowledge on behaviour and welfare

I welcome your thoughts!

www.wspa-international.org/farming

lesleylambert@wspa-international.org