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Chapter 10  The Five Freedoms 
The Five Freedoms were first proposed in Britain in the 1960's. The Farm Animal Welfare Council, established by the British government in the late 1970's to advise it on legislative and other changes for farm animals, subsequently affirmed them. The Council was conservatively made up of individuals with connections to agriculture: farmers, animal farming company directors, veterinary surgeons and academics specialising in agriculture. Other bodies concerned with animal welfare have approved the Freedoms.
The Five Freedoms are: The Farm Animal Welfare Council say the Five Freedoms are a framework for viewing and improving animal welfare "within the proper constraints of an effective livestock industry." The Council stress that well trained and supervised stockmanship is the key to farm animal welfare: "...without competent, diligent stockmanship the welfare of animals cannot be adequately safeguarded." However, the Five Freedoms are not inevitably applied being more honoured in the breach. How much animal farming and stockmanship concede toward applying the Five Freedoms to animals is demonstrated by the realities of factory farming, such as the chicken and egg industry. Nor are the Five Freedoms widely applied to animals farmed for their fur. The Five Freedoms are basic ideals of welfare for farm animals, like livestock and poultry, wherever the animals may be, such as at farms, markets, slaughterhouses, or in transit, and should be applied by anyone in charge of the animals or handling them. The Freedoms make good common sense and are broad enough to apply to all farm animals anywhere in the world (indeed, to all animals, see Animal Friendly Traveller, Chapter 4).
Go to the Farm Animal Welfare Council for copies of their publications. Also see Chickens and Broilers. ›› To Entries & Home |
