Data from Bryant Research has found that the vast majority of the British public opposes a range of common farming practices.
For example, 94% of respondents disapprove of keeping chickens in a cage as small as an A4 sheet of paper, while 96% oppose keeping pigs in cages where they cannot turn around. 87% are against cutting off the beaks of newborn chicks, and 85% oppose killing male chicks because they cannot produce eggs. For every practice studied, disapproval rates are at least 75%.
The figures show that these practices remain prevalent despite widespread public opposition. For example, 99% of male chicks in the egg industry are currently killed, while 90% of calves have their horn buds removed with a hot iron. However, prevalence data is unavailable for some practices such as debeaking and teeth clipping, meaning more research is needed.
Failing to address root causes
The research notes that many of these practices only address symptoms rather than the root cause; for example, pigs on factory farms often bite their tails due to stress and boredom, and farmers may amputate their tails rather than improving conditions.
Furthermore, Bryant Research finds that the beef and dairy industries have become surprisingly intertwined, with 52% of the UK’s beef herd now originating from unwanted dairy calves.
The research comes after a new version of the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW), published last year, gave 93% of global food companies a low rating for animal welfare improvements.
Opportunity for change
Bryant Research notes that there is significant potential for animal welfare improvements through practices such as in-ovo sexing, which can prevent chick culling. The organisation also recommends that the government should introduce a universal, mandatory animal welfare labelling scheme to increase consumer awareness and incentivise better practices.
However, the research finds that a plant-based transition is the best way forward, since it ensures that unacceptable animal farming practices are not involved in food production. Bryant Research also suggests that animal farmers transition to plant production through initiatives such as the Transfarmation Project.
“The British public is overwhelmingly opposed to a litany of common farming practices,” said social researcher Elise Hankins. “In fact, every single farming practice presented to respondents was deemed unacceptable by a large majority.
“Although all of these practices are considered common practice in the UK meat, dairy, and egg industries, exact prevalence rates are more difficult to come by. However, these rates are crucial, as they can help guide advocacy targets and strategies. Moreover, the public deserves this information, so that they may make informed decisions as consumers.”
Original source: https://vegconomist.com
https://www.animalagricultureclimatechange.org/uk-eating-less-meat/
