Improving animal welfare on farms
Farm animals are healthier when raised humanely. We campaign to improve farm animal welfare and change the most intensive forms of farming.
We protect farm animals
Humane animal farming is better for everyone. Animals live longer, healthier and more active lives. High welfare farming can be less damaging to the environment. And farmers can earn more too. So we work with governments, farmers and consumers all over the world – campaigning for farm animals and partnering with businesses to show that farming can be sustainable and profitable.
We work with farmers to improve animal welfare and keep animals in an environment where they can behave naturally
Farm animal welfare: The benefits
Humane farms are better for animals, people and the environment:
- Raising animals humanely can use less feed, fuel and water than intensive farming, reducing costs and pollution
- Humane farms can create jobs, boost profits and keep local food supplies healthy
- By farming crops and livestock, humane farms can reduce environmental damage – recycling nutrients and improving the soil
- Greenhouse gas emissions are often reduced when animals are healthy and have good welfare.
Farm animal welfare: Our work
At World Animal Protection, we help companies and farmers to adopt farming methods without close confinement of animals, as these cause pain and distress. And we help to create conditions where animals are more able to express their natural behaviors.
One of our largest efforts in North America is working with others to adopt cage-free practices to help the 300 million hens living lives of pain and suffering as they labor to produce one of our most basic food staples - eggs.
Reports and resources
Please note, some of the documents below were produced prior to June 2014, when we were known as the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). We are now World Animal Protection.
- Animals and people first: Why good animal welfare is important for feeding people, for trade and for the future
- The case against cages: Why cage-free systems are better for laying hens
- Closed waters: The welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, Atlantic cod and Atlantic halibut
- Curb the cruelty: Canada’s farm animal transport system in need of repair
- Eating our future: The environmental impact of industrial animal agriculture
- What's on your plate? The Hidden Costs of Industrial Animal Agriculture in Canada