Are extensive farming systems better for animal welfare?

1. Introduction

Extensive farming systems are highly variable in terms of climate, nutrition, and risk of disease or injury. Despite this, the welfare of animals kept in extensive systems has received less attention than those farmed intensively due to ‘naturalness’ being prioritised as the most important aspect of animal welfare [1]. However, it is now widely accepted that welfare assessments must also consider biological functioning and emotional state [2] casting doubt over whether extensive systems produce better welfare after all. While the number of individuals affected is unclear, extensive farming occurs on 25% of global land surface and produces 10% of meat consumed [3] making this an important line of questioning.

2. Advantages

Extensive farming systems rely on pasture feeding and low inputs where animals are managed outdoors all year round [4, 5, 1]. This offers animals greater control over their lives and the opportunity to experience positive states, such as play, exploration, and bonding [6]. For example, ewes in extensive systems are able to perform maternal behaviours whereas sows in intensive systems can be confined to crates for most of the gestation period. Opportunities for natural behaviour fit within the conceptual framework of the five freedoms – “freedom to express normal behaviour” [7] – and the five domains – “behavioural expression” [2] – and help prevent disordered behaviours seen in intensive systems (e.g. bar biting, feather pecking).

Image 1. Ewe and her lamb, Wales.

Image 2. A commercial pig farm, Italy [10].

An anthropocentric view might also consider the low input required – less labour, less fertilisers and feed, and greater automation – another advantage of extensive farming. Finally, a ‘hands off’ approach may reduce reliance on antimicrobials and subsequent risks to human health [8], with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) hailing extensive systems as better for both animals and the environment [9].

3. Disadvantages

However, most advantages sit largely within the behavioural domain whilst not necessarily fulfilling other welfare domains ofnutrition, environment, and health [2]. While extensively managed animals do benefit from greater ‘naturalness’, they remain vulnerable to welfare challenges unique to extensive systems.

3.1. Health

Extensively managed animals experience long periods where feed is unavailable (e.g. after snowfall) or nutritionally inadequate [1, 4] leading to low body score, chronic hunger, and impaired immunity. A widespread health concern among sheep is lameness, with at least three million lame sheep in the UK at any one time and the potential to culminate in “a life not worth living” [11]. Unfortunately, extensive systems do not provide sufficient monitoring of individuals, meaning delayed diagnoses and treatment is a serious welfare concern. Furthermore, some diseases are more likely in extensive systems (e.g., parasites) and spread by closer proximity to wild species [1] but this needs further research.

Image 3. Cows housed outdoors during snowfall, US.

3.2. Environment

Extensively managed animals are at the mercy of a variable environment. Heat stress can be detrimental to ruminant physiology [12, 13, 14] while – at the opposite end of the mercury – hypothermia is a major cause of neonatal death [15]. Overall, pre-weaning mortality rates range from 9% in beef cattle to 20% in goats [1]. However, causes are not exclusive to environmental pressures and may also occur due to birth related injuries and delayed colostrum intake. Given that appropriate maternal behaviour is a key factor in newborn survival [16] it is possible that ewe temperaments contribute to mortalities as much as environmental factors.

3.3. Human interaction

Finally, animals housed indoors may associate humans with positive experiences (e.g. daily feeding) whereas extensively farmed animals may receive only seasonal interactions (e.g. vaccinations, shearing), encouraging a conditioned fear of humans [17]. In research conducted by Petherick [18], beef cattle in Australia were less fearful of humans following two months of lot-feeding in comparison to 12 months spent grazing. As fear can be a potent stressor, this is an obvious welfare concern. However, this may still be preferrable to the management of intensively farmed animals, which is frequent but often aversive.

In this context, it is worth acknowledging that while many disadvantages of extensive farming are interconnected and thus have no ‘quick fix’, many of them will pale in comparison to the welfare concerns of intensive production systems. These systems are characterised by high stocking densities, restricted behaviour, and painful husbandry [19] and are devoid of most provisions set out in the five domains. This does not, however, mean that extensive systems are better.

4. Conclusion

Ultimately, both systems vary in the welfare indicators they satisfy and degree to which they satisfy them. Intensive farming provides little ‘naturalness’ but does protect from predators and adverse weather. Conversely, extensively farmed animals are at the mercy of a variable climate but have greater behavioural freedoms. It is thus reasonable to conclude that, given the multi-faceted concept of good welfare, neither system will ever fulfil all welfare indicators. Readers might also feel uncomfortable measuring one animal’s suffering against another; suffering is suffering and should surely be avoided regardless. Might it then be best for consumers to take matters into their own hands? The UK National Food Strategy recommends eating 30% less meat, while others [20, 21, 22] suggest the only way to avoid both production systems – and their corresponding welfare issues – is to leave animals off your plate altogether.

Unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s own or provided by Pexels.com.

5. References

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[14] Wojtas, K., Cwynar, P., & Kołacz, R. (2014). Effect of thermal stress on physiological and blood parameters in Merino sheep. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy, 58 (2), 283–288. doi: 10.2478/bvip-2014-0043

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