Livestock Welfare Training: Competency Standards

Workforce training in animal welfare is critical to translating welfare knowledge into practice; competency standards ensure that everyone handling livestock meets a minimum welfare knowledge threshold.

Key Facts

UK livestock keepers are legally required to have appropriate knowledge of animal welfare
Stockpersonship training programmes have demonstrated measurable welfare improvement at farm level
Certification of welfare competency is required for specific procedures in several EU countries
Training delivery through farm visits and online learning achieves comparable knowledge outcomes

Welfare Considerations

The gap between welfare knowledge and welfare practice in livestock production is substantially reduced by targeted workforce training that builds both knowledge and positive attitudes toward animal welfare. Training that only provides information without addressing attitudes and skills fails to achieve the behaviour change that improves welfare outcomes. Effective welfare training programmes demonstrate what good welfare looks like, provide tools for welfare assessment, and build confidence to act on welfare concerns.

What You Can Do

Support welfare training requirements as mandatory elements of livestock keeper certification
Advocate for regular refresher training rather than one-time certification for livestock welfare competency
Raise awareness that stockmanship quality is a welfare determinant that can be systematically improved through training