Vetnuus | June 2024 11 >>> 12 Implementing livestock welfare at all levels in the industry Gareth Francis Bath N/A, Pretoria, South Africa Having laws, regulations, standards, codes, guidelines and statements is important for establishing and maintaining animal welfare but these documents are only the printed basis for implementation. The purpose of these documents should be to persuade and guide all sectors of the industry to recognise the importance of livestock welfare, affirm their commitment to promote and protect it and ensure that measures are defended and implemented. The reasons why livestock welfare is important include its links with production, profitability, consumer perceptions, industry norms and expectations, laws, standards, ethics, and religious beliefs. Persuading all those involved in the industry requires a thorough knowledge of that industry, its many linkages with welfare principles and in turn the ethogram of that species. National and international documents are important – applicable policies, statements, guidelines, codes, standards, regulations and laws are best transmitted to livestock chain participants by repeated exposure via suitable media and simplified messages. Industry Codes of Best Practice that incorporate Welfare Norms are a powerful way of ensuring that these norms are known. However, they should always be followed up by levels of monitoring implementation and compliance, from informal self-evaluation to industry checks and independent assessments. A wide variety of issues affecting welfare should be addressed and reviewed for possible revision regularly or as required by changing circumstances. Norms that arise from full consultation, discussion and concessions leading to industry-wide consensus and full support and implementation are proven to be the best way to make progress. Live exportation of animals by sea: animal welfare issues and the shifting trade routes Bryce Marock The National Council for SPCAs This is a topic that has been a controversial for many decades, and it is unsurprising that SAVA has taken a position to not fully embrace the trade. This position falls in line with the other large veterinary associations throughout the world. In South Africa, the trade has been limited to short haul journeys, monitored by the NSPCA. This would include, monitoring of loading, travelling with the vessels, being present at unloading, and inspecting slaughter overseas. While remaining opposed to the trade, the NSPCA continues with necessary welfare enforcement, and will take part in the proposed regulations. The welfare concerns include but are not limited to heat stress, cold stress, injury, rapid spread of disease, hygiene issues, rough seas, lack of visibility of dead and dying animals, limitations in treatment, noxious gas buildup, breakdowns, refusal at ports, 24-hour lighting, feed insufficiencies, constant loud noise, and a lack of water. The global livestock fleet is one of the oldest in the world and according to data from credible maritime authorities, the risk of being lost is twice that of the general cargo fleet. There are several reasons for this, but notably because most are retired converted car, oil and cargo carriers. South Africa is recognized for high welfare standards, but now, under increased scrutiny worldwide, including full and partial bans, any company with any vessel may seek out South Africa as an alternative. The trade is under increased global scrutiny with international media interest, due to threats of full or partial bans and extended journey times to avoid war. Veterinarians in all parts of the world have been involved to some extent, and it is appropriate for all to become aware of the current issues as the World Organization for Animal Health begins soon revising the outdated relevant chapter in 2024. Applying WOAH animal welfare standards in Southern Africa - pipe dream or possibility? Quixi Sonntag1, Luigi Iannetti2, Michele Podaliri2 1EduPet Veterinary Consulting, Pretoria, South Africa. 2IZSAM, Teramo, Italy Perceptions exist that animal welfare (AW) in developing countries, especially in Africa, cannot be held to the same AW standards as developed countries, posing the question as to whether it is realistic for countries in Africa to strive for World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) AW standards. In this paper, we aim to answer this question, with particular reference to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). We situate our paper against the background of a WOAH twinning project between an Italian (IZS-Teramo) and a South African institution (University of Pretoria) aimed at capacitating the SADC region in the field of AW. Various activities were undertaken as part of this twinning programme including in-person workshops and an online course in AW. Activities of the twinning programme were continued in the framework of the ERFAN (Enhancing Research for Africa Network) initiative. Data were generated from a survey that formed part of the course and a participatory workshop. The survey focused on the state of AW in relation to the WOAH standards in six SADC countries(Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), whether the standards provided a useful framework or not to address AW issues, in which degree they are included in the national legislation and what is required to enable each country to meet the standards. All countries included in the survey had official government policies and programmes with the final aim of complying with WOAH AW standards. In all countries, legislation on AW is in force or under development, particularly on slaughtering and dog population management. Voluntary AW standards and SOPs are widespread among large producers in some countries. Workshop participants identified mini-goals as the first steps towards the successful implementation of WOAH standards for AW. There was agreement that the basic principles enshrined in the WOAH standards could be applied in Southern Africa, albeit in a different way that would make sense to local societies. The practical applications are elaborated on in the final paper. Ethical leadership in animal welfare for veterinary industry and practice Dr Heather Bacon Dean of School, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK, hbacon@ uclan.ac.uk As vets, we value our companion animals not just for themselves as individuals but also for what they represent and bring to our lives, for example, as symbols of a particular breed, as companions that are valuable to our clients, and instrumentally, as a source of professional challenge, pride and income. This mixed value can confound our Events I WVAC 2024
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