Addressing Lameness in Farmed Animals: An Urgent Need to Achieve Compliance with EU Animal Welfare Law

Abstract

Lameness is the clinical manifestation of a range of painful locomotory conditions affecting many species of farmed animals. Although these conditions have serious consequences for animal welfare, productivity, and longevity, the prevention and treatment of lameness continue to receive insufficient attention in most farming sectors across the European Union (EU). In this paper, we outline the legislative framework that regulates the handling of lameness and other painful conditions in farmed animals in the EU. We briefly outline the current situation in different livestock farming sectors. Finally, we make the case for the introduction of regular on-farm monitoring of lameness and for the setting of alarm thresholds that should trigger corrective actions.

Unintended consequences of selection for increased production on the health and welfare of livestock

“…Lameness is a recognised problem in pigs (Le et al, 2015;Nalon and Stevenson, 2019) and affects pig production on both a welfare and economic level. Le et al (2015) reported that boars with leg deformities and lameness showed a decreased daily weight gain, resulting in decreased profitability and efficiency.…”

“…Sows with superior moving ability were likely to show superior fertility, with larger litter sizes and shorter between-parity intervals. Nalon and Stevenson (2019) added that locomotory disorders were the major cause of involuntary culling of healthy breeding sows.…”

Anthropogenic suffering of farmed animals: the other side of zoonoses

“…Transport (often the only time in their lives when animals get a brief taste of the outdoors) may be carried out under extreme conditions of heat or cold, sometimes over prolonged periods and long distances, notwithstanding animal welfare standards (which vary from country to country and are not always enforced because of a shortage of inspectors ;Webster 2001;Nalon & Stevenson 2019;Morton et al 2020). This often highly stressful period is also associated with physical suffering, including pain, in many cases (Elrom 2000a,b;Zanardi et al 2007;Mitchell et al 2009;White et al 2009;Minka et al 2010;Foster et al 2014;Santurtun et al 2015;Roy et al 2015;Marques et al 2016;Gaia-Eurogroup for Animals 2016;Vecerkova et al 2019, Broom 2019.…”

Commonly Encountered Ailments in Working Bullocks in Western Maharashtra, India

“…Lameness is the clinical manifestation of a range of painful locomotor conditions which have serious consequences for animal welfare, productivity, longevity and simultaneously prevention & treatment of lameness receive insufficient attention by animal owners [3].…”