Regular and skilled livestock inspection is a fundamental requirement for animal welfare, enabling early detection and treatment of disease and injury.
Livestock inspection by a skilled and motivated stockperson is the foundation of good farm animal welfare. Disease and injury not detected promptly cause prolonged unnecessary suffering. Stockpersonship training and farmer attitudes toward animal welfare are critical determinants of inspection quality. Farms with high stockperson-to-animal ratios and well-trained staff consistently achieve better welfare outcomes. Inspection cannot be delegated entirely to technology, as it requires judgement, pattern recognition, and prompt action. Enforcement of inspection requirements is an important regulatory function.