What is the aim of conducting animal welfare audits?

Conducting animal welfare audits primarily aims to assess compliance with welfare standards. These audits are systematic evaluations that help ensure that the practices implemented on a farm or in an animal care facility align with established welfare guidelines. The focus is to verify that the conditions under which the animals are kept meet or exceed minimal welfare requirements, ensuring that their physical and mental well-being is prioritized.

Animal welfare audits involve a thorough examination of various factors, including housing conditions, management practices, health care provisions, and overall animal treatment. By assessing compliance with welfare standards, organizations and producers can identify areas needing improvement, promote better care practices, and enhance overall animal welfare.

In contrast, measuring animal growth rates, evaluating feed quality, and determining breeding practices are more specific activities that do not directly relate to the comprehensive assessment of welfare practices. While these factors can influence animal welfare, the audits themselves focus specifically on ensuring adherence to welfare regulations and guidelines. Therefore, the aim of conducting animal welfare audits is fundamentally about evaluating compliance with welfare standards.