Farmed Animals

Genetic Technologies and Livestock Welfare

New genetic technologies offer potential to improve livestock welfare by selecting for health rather than production alone.

Key Facts

Gene editing tools including CRISPR can potentially introduce polling genes more rapidly than traditional selection
Genomic selection allows faster incorporation of welfare-relevant traits into breeding programmes
Disease resistance traits can be selected that reduce suffering from common livestock illnesses
Some proposed genetic modifications raise their own welfare concerns about unintended effects
Regulatory frameworks for genetic modification in livestock vary significantly between countries

Welfare Considerations

Genetic technologies offer genuine potential to improve livestock welfare by accelerating selection for health traits including disease resistance, structural soundness, and polled conformation. However, genetic modification also carries risks of unintended welfare consequences and requires appropriate regulatory oversight. The goal should be using genetic tools to serve animal welfare, not to optimise animals for production at the expense of health.

What You Can Do

Support genetic research aimed at improving livestock welfare outcomes
Engage with regulatory debates about genetic modification with welfare considerations foregrounded
Advocate for welfare outcomes to be the primary criterion for approving new genetic technologies
Support research into long-term welfare consequences of genetic modifications
Maintain critical engagement with industry uses of genetic technology