New study unveils how the CAP is contributing to animal welfare and antimicrobial use reduction

CAP instruments and measures have the ability to contribute to animal welfare and antimicrobial use reduction. In most of the regions/Member States studied, animal welfare and antimicrobial use were mostly addressed through rural development measures. They proved to be most effective when combining investments in better housing conditions, feeding, and health management. 

Pressure from civil society can also lead farmers and managing authorities to support changes in practices. For example, marketing standards for egg production set at EU level influenced consumer demand and production choices by requiring mandatory labelling of eggs according to the production systems and housing conditions of laying hens.

As a whole, the CAP appears to have helped improve animal welfare locally, in specific sectors and/or Member States and regions, depending on the implementation choices. The main recommendation is for Member States to implement more widespread measures targeting animal welfare. A common EU methodology to document best animal welfare practices to implement on-farm, with relevant targets, should be developed.

The study suggests providing a comprehensive overview of the number of animals concerned by different types of interventions addressing animal welfare and antimicrobial use at national level. To properly assess the effects of the CAP, the data should distinguish between the different sectors concerned (e.g. cattle, sheep/goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits) and use the number of animals rather than the number of livestock units. Advisory services should also be encouraged as they have proven to be effective in raising farmers’ technical knowledge on best animal welfare practices.

Another recommendation is to explore the extension of mandatory labelling to other animal-husbandry sectors, by mentioning production systems or housing conditions on the label, similar to the current marketing standards for eggs.