Research need from Focus Group: On-farm animal welfare assessment in grass-based systems

This need for research has been identified in FG 42 on “Sustainable beef production systems”. If you want to know more about it, check the final report of the Focus Group.

Current animal welfare evaluation systems cover mostly intensive husbandry systems in many European countries. This presents a risk that grass-based* farms do not fit in these systems. There is a research need for an alternative animal welfare evaluation system for non-intensive systems involving researchers and professionals trained and experienced on pasture management, soil health, ecosystem relations, animal sciences, biology, nature, veterinary sciences, etc.