Two in five UK farmers to invest in animal welfare in 2018
© Tim Scrivener Two in five UK farmers are planning to invest more in animal welfare business in the next 12 months.
Farmers are prioritising animal welfare over other investments, with the move being driven by demand for high-welfare products from retailers and consumers, according to research commissioned by McDonald’s.
The findings, revealed on Thursday (8 March), coincided with the launch of the fast-food chain’s first-ever £500,000 capital grant scheme to help dairy farmers deliver better welfare.
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Survey findings in detail
A cross-section of 500 beef, pork and poultry farmers were surveyed by the National Farm Research Unit.
It revealed:
- Animal welfare was the single biggest focus of investment
- 40% of farmers said they would be investing in welfare
- This compared with spending on infrastructure (37%) and working capital (30%)
- Of those interviewed, 88% were already accredited by a farm assurance scheme and, of those remaining, 20% said they were working to gain accreditation in 2018
- Asked why they were increasing their investment in animal welfare, beyond improving animal health, 88% said they believed high welfare standards were vital to making UK farming globally competitive
- Meanwhile, 59% said they had seen an increased demand for higher welfare products over the past five years from food companies, retailers and consumers.
Challenges of delivering higher welfare
Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents said farmers were responsible for driving animal welfare standards in the UK farming industry.
However, 70% cited high production costs as a serious challenge in delivering higher welfare standards.
Farmer viewpoint
Mike Tizzard, a McDonald’s flagship dairy farmer, said animal welfare had always been a top priority for him, but now he was investing more than ever in preventative measures to safeguard the health and well-being of the herd.
This included redesigning cow tracks and the collecting yard for optimum comfort, he explained.
He added: “Put simply, happy and healthy cows mean happy staff, high-quality standards, and improved productivity.”
Capital grant scheme
The new scheme offers dairy farmers grants of up to £10,000 each to fund innovation in animal welfare on their farm.
It has been developed in partnership with their milk supplier Arla Foods and will be offered as part of Farm Forward, McDonald’s long-term programme of support for the UK farming industry.
It is open to Arla milk producers only and those wishing to apply for funding should visit the Arla website or speak to their Arla representative for more information.
Connor McVeigh, supply chain director, McDonald’s UK, said: “UK farmers have always been front-footed when it comes to animal welfare but, as this research shows, they continue to invest and innovate.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be able to serve the responsibly sourced food our customers want and expect.
“We want to work hand in hand with farmers to make sure the industry continues to thrive. That’s why, as part of our Farm Forward programme, we are investing half a million pounds this year to support farmers who are driving innovation in animal welfare on their farms. It’s just one of the ways we are doing our part to support this dynamic and evolving industry.”