New Animal Welfare Assessment Tool Developed for Smallholder Farms

Conducted as a pilot study in Vietnam, researchers found the tool practical for assessing animal welfare under local farming conditions. The initiative, led by the University of Sydney with contributions from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Animal Welfare Centre, aims to create welfare assessment methods that are relevant and adaptable to local contexts, thereby supporting livelihoods and guiding future agricultural policies.

The research focuses on smallholder pig farms that are crucial for food and income in many regions, including Asia and Africa. Unlike commercial farming, these operations typically involve fewer animals and are influenced by local resources and cultural traditions. The research team evaluated 16 existing pig welfare assessment protocols, noting their limitations in applicability to smallholder scenarios. As a solution, they developed a framework integrating a farmer questionnaire with animal-based observations tailored to local conditions, making it easier for farm operators to identify welfare issues.

This framework highlights five key welfare indicators that may require urgent attention: access to food and water, body condition, space allowance, and signs of negative social behavior. Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio from the University of Sydney stated that the tool serves as a practical starting point for researchers, governments, and farming organizations to measure welfare consistently while allowing for local adaptations.

The pilot trial involved 110 smallholder pig farms in northern Vietnam, evaluating the welfare of sows, piglets, and growing pigs. While many animals exhibited good welfare practices according to various indicators, common issues included limited access to drinking water and suboptimal body conditions. Research findings suggest that implementing relatively simple and cost-effective interventions could significantly enhance pig welfare, benefiting smallholder farm productivity.

The researchers emphasize that this assessment protocol is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a framework that can be tailored and validated using local expertise in different countries. The findings, published in Tropical Animal Health and Production, were developed in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute and the National Institute of Animal Science in Vietnam. Dr. Rebecca Doyle, the Animal Welfare Centre Director, noted that this framework provides a solid basis for adapting welfare measures to various contexts, thereby supporting improvements in animal health, food security, and sustainable livestock production.